Bethlehem's Holiday Tree Illuminates Once Again Since the Start of the Conflict

Throughout a two-year period amid the Gaza war, all public celebrations for Christmas were cancelled in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. This city is where the faithful hold the birth of Jesus occurred.

However, following a recent truce, the holy city determined that now celebrations would return, as represented by the lighting of its traditional, large holiday tree before the ancient Church of the Nativity.

"We have endured two difficult years without celebration; no Christmas, no jobs, no work," remarks the city's mayor Maher Canawati. "Our community survives from tourism and the tourist trade had fallen to zero."

He accepts that the idea of resuming celebrations was not without debate, given the ongoing hardship in Gaza – which affects members of the tiny Christian community, many of whom have family ties in Bethlehem.

"Certain voices argue it's not appropriate and others say it is fitting," Mr Canawati explains. "But deep inside my heart, I felt this constituted the right thing to do because Christmas must never be halted or abandoned. This represents a beacon of hope for us."

A Glimmer of Celebration Returns

Residents – both Christians and Muslims – take photographs before the tree hung with red and gold baubles in Manger Square. They are accompanied by a handful of international visitors.

Brightly coloured lights now adorn the streets and there are signs promoting holiday markets and festive events for children.

"We are delighted to have the tree, first of all, and to see foreigners to Bethlehem and to have the chance to celebrate Christmas in its authentic spirit," says local jewellery designer Nadya Hazboun.

"This place is where it all started, so this is where we can convey the message to the world of what Christmas truly represents. And now, if the season is calm, I sincerely hope it will bring a nice message for the whole world."

Economic Prospects and Challenges

The neighbouring towns including Beit Jala and Beit Sahour also intend to illuminate holiday trees in the coming days. Local hotels – which have stood mostly vacant for two years – have an influx of bookings from Palestinian citizens of Israel as well as certain international tourists.

One tourist from Russia, Angelica, is on her second pilgrimage to this region. "I think everyone needs to come at least once in their life," she states.

"I wish a lot of people will return soon because it's sad with few tourists. The only thing that's good is you don't have long lines – one can visit and experience more. When I came before it was necessary to wait in line for a few hours minimum."

For now, the gift shops scattered throughout the city experience scant trade, and outside the pale walls of the Nativity Church, which originate from the 4th century, guides are mostly unoccupied. Prior to the conflict, it was often crammed with people.

"This is a city for tourists; absent visitors there is no life," laments a guide named Hamza. "We hope to have people returning like before: from Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, Latin American and everywhere. We begin with the Christmas tree lighting, and then we will wait."

The Lingering Economic Toll

In the past two years, unemployment has skyrocketed in Bethlehem. Since the lethal Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war, tens of thousands of Palestinian labourers from the West Bank region have been blocked from entering Israel and its settlements to 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 Authority depends on tax income collected by Israel, which it is withholding – to the tune of $1.76 billion, according to a UN agency.

Israeli officials state it is holding these funds because the PA makes financial payments to Palestinian prisoners that encourage violence against Israelis. The PA – which has been under international pressure to enact reforms – says it has recently changed its social welfare system.

An Austere Holiday

The grim economic situation implies that for many Christian Palestinians, despite the fact that there are now public events as well as religious services, it will be an austere Christmas.

On the periphery of the square, some patrons are waiting to buy sizzling balls of falafel from a row of shops.

"We are getting ready for Christmas following one of our hardest periods as Palestinians and as a Christian community," states Alaa Salameh, an owner of a restaurant called Afteem, a long-established family restaurant which has seen its revenues collapse. He says that recently numerous families could not even afford falafel – a cheap, traditional food.

"Christians will try to mark the occasion but based on their circumstances," Mr Salameh anticipates. "An individual wishing to bring their children to a festive event or the theatre or whatever, he doesn't have the funds to spend on these celebrations."

Prayers for Calm and Recovery

In the cave-like grotto at the base of the Nativity Church, a local woman accompanies a tour group from India, bending down by a silver star which marks the location where it is said that Jesus was born and igniting a candle close by.

With tensions still high throughout the area, Bethlehem residents state they are hoping for tranquility – and wishing for tourists to come back to the place where it is believed Christmas began.