BETHLEHEM: Mayor of Bethlehem Hanna Hanania said that the message of the city of Bethlehem as it prepares to host the Chrisman holiday this year is a message of sadness, anger, and complete rejection of the aggression against the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian people in general.
‘Despite the harsh conditions, Bethlehem is always armed with the message of the Christ, the message of love and peace,’ Hanania told WAFA in an exclusive interview. ‘But the city is still living under a strict siege by closing all its entrances either with dirt barriers, iron gates, or military checkpoints, and as a result, the movement of people is stifled. Not to mention the escalation in the pace of settlement, the appropriation of more lands, nightly incursions, raids on homes, and the arrest of citizens.’
He said that the traditional celebrations in Bethlehem that accompany the processions of the patriarchs on Christmas Eve will be absent, and the celebrations this year will be limited to religious rituals, pointing out that i
n the beginning, the idea was to have a single Christmas tree in Bethlehem without lighting it, but rather decorating with the Palestinian flag and draped in black. However, after discussion by the various parties and the churches, it was agreed that there would not be a tree at all.
Hanania said that this will be the first time a Christmas tree will not be on display in Bethlehem since it was first decorated in 1994, in addition to removing all the decorations that previously adorned Manger Square, as well as the main alleys and streets.
He explained that the Christmas tree will not only be absent from Manger Square but will also not be found in the homes after the Christian families decided not to display the decorations completely.
Hanania said Bethlehem will have one main event before December 24, the date of the Patriarch’s procession, carrying a clear message to the world. He said a cave will be placed in Manger Square with a Jesus baby inside it and decorated with debris that reflects the reality of
life experienced by the people and children of Gaza, carrying a message of rejection and demanding that the international community stand up to its responsibilities.
Regarding the patriarch’s procession, he said that the patriarch will be received at the court of the Nativity according to the observed status quo, led by the scouts from Bethlehem and other governorates, but without their musical instruments or playing music and there will be no guests as before, adding: ‘We sent invitations to the cities that are twinned with Bethlehem, numbering 104 cities, with messages to inform them of what is happening in Palestine in general. The responses were mixed between solidarity and lack thereof, and therefore the city council will reconsider the relationship with the cities whose position was negative after they supported the aggression.’
Hanania said the city where Jesus Christ was born launched some activities in which children of Bethlehem sent messages from in front of the Nativity Church to the world, noti
ng that the municipality had prepared a program for the holidays before the start of the aggression against Gaza but was forced to cancel it completely after the aggression.
He explained that the city of Bethlehem suffered major economic losses due to the absence of tourists, describing the governorate as afflicted with the absence of local and foreign visitors, and the disruption of all tourist facilities.
Source: Palestine news and Information Agency – WAFA – English