Bethlehem's Holiday Tree Lights Up Once Again After the Outbreak of the Gaza War
Throughout a two-year period amid the Gaza war, every festive public event marking the holiday season were cancelled in Bethlehem located in the West Bank. This place is where the faithful hold Jesus was born.
But, following a recent truce, the holy city determined that now celebrations would return, as symbolised by the lighting of its traditional, giant Christmas tree before the ancient Church of the Nativity.
"We have endured two difficult years without celebration; no holiday, no employment, no income," states Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati. "Our community survives from tourism and tourism was down to nothing."
He acknowledges that the decision of resuming celebrations faced some controversy, given the ongoing hardship within Gaza – which affects members of the tiny Christian community, who often have family ties in Bethlehem.
"Some may say it is unsuitable while others contend it's appropriate," the mayor notes. "However, in my heart, I felt that this was the right thing to do because Christmas must never be halted or abandoned. This represents the light of hope for us."
A Spark of Celebration Returns
Locals – both Christians and Muslims – pose for selfies before the tree decorated with gold and red ornaments in Manger Square. They are accompanied by a small number of international visitors.
Brightly coloured lights now decorate city streets and there are signs advertising holiday markets and festive events for children.
"We're very happy to have the tree, first of all, and to welcome visitors in Bethlehem and to have the chance to celebrate Christmas in its authentic spirit," says Bethlehem designer Nadya Hazboun.
"This place is where everything began, so this is where we can send the message globally of what really Christmas should be about. And this year, if the season is calm, I sincerely hope it will bring a positive message for the whole world."
Economic Prospects and Challenges
Nearby towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour also intend to light Christmas trees soon. Hotels – which have stood mostly vacant for two years – are seeing a rise in reservations from Arab citizens of Israel along with certain international tourists.
One tourist from Russia, Angelica, is on her second pilgrimage to the Holy Land. "In my view every person should visit at least once during their lifetime," she says.
"I hope a lot of people will soon come back as it is sorrowful without many tourists. The only thing that is positive is you don't have lengthy queues – one can visit and experience more. On my prior visit you had to wait in a queue for hours at least."
Currently, the gift shops scattered throughout Bethlehem experience scant trade, and near the pale walls of the Church of the Nativity, which date back to the Fourth Century, tour guides are mostly unoccupied. Before the conflict, it was typically packed with people.
"This is a city for tourists; absent visitors there is no livelihood," expresses a guide named Hamza. "We hope to see individuals coming back as in the past: from Europe, the Middle Eastern region, the Americas, Latin American and everywhere. We begin with lighting the tree, and we'll wait."
The Persistent Economic Impact
Over the last two years, unemployment has skyrocketed within Bethlehem. Since the lethal Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel during October 2023 that sparked the war, tens of thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank have been prevented from entering Israel and its settlements for work.
At the same time, public servants have received just a portion of their salaries from the Palestinian Authority (PA) – that administers parts of the West Bank. The PA depends on tax income collected by Israel, which it is withholding – to the tune of 1.76 billion dollars, according to the UN's trade and development agency.
Israeli officials state it is holding these funds because the Authority provides financial payments to incarcerated Palestinians that incentivise attacks on Israelis. The PA – which has been under international pressure to enact reforms – claims it has lately modified its social welfare system.
An Austere Holiday
The grim economic situation implies that for many Palestinian Christians, despite the fact that there are now public festivities in addition to religious ceremonies, it will be an austere Christmas.
On the periphery of Manger Square, a few customers are waiting to buy hot balls of falafel from several shops.
"We are getting ready for the holiday following one of our hardest periods as a Palestinian people and as a Christian community," says Alaa Salameh, who runs a restaurant called Afteem, a decades-old family-run eatery that has witnessed its income plummet. He says that recently numerous families could not even purchase falafel – an inexpensive, traditional food.
"Christians will try to mark the occasion but according to their circumstances," Mr Salameh anticipates. "An individual wishing to take his kids to a festive event or a show or similar, he doesn't have the funds to spend on these celebrations."
Prayers for Calm and Recovery
Within the grotto at the base of the church, a local woman accompanies a tour group from India, stooping down by a silver star which marks the location where it is said that Jesus was born and igniting a light close by.
With tensions still high across the region, people in Bethlehem say they are hoping for tranquility – and wishing for tourists to come back to the location which is thought to be where Christmas started.