But wait–I thought the Jews killed Christmas! The AFP says there’s going to be a merry Christmas in Bethlehem after all. Hat tip: Paul M.
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AFP) – Thousands of Palestinians and tourists flocked to the Christmas Fayre in Bethlehem, where festive magic has returned to the birthplace of Christ after five years of bloodshed.
It marked a comeback for the annual shopping extravaganza, first organised in 1999 but frozen for five years due to the worst excesses of the Palestinian uprising, which seem to have dissipated by late 2005.
Interesting that the writer calls the terrorism of the PA “excesses.” I’m betting you won’t hear about the takeover of the church by terrorists in this article.
A dozen stalls on Star Street, according to Christian tradition the route taken by the Virgin Mary to the stables where she gave birth to the Son of God, merchants sold sculptures in olive wood, trinkets and traditional delicacies.
Particularly well patronised is the stand run by Nivin al-Sus, who dishes out free wine gently warmed by candlelight. Affaf Bahnan, the owner of a nearby pret-a-porter boutique, rubs her hands together in delight.
“It’s been several years since we’ve sold anything. Bethlehem has a new lease of life thanks to Christmas,” she said on Friday.
But wait! Wait! I don’t understand. I thought there aren’t going to be any tourists in Bethlehem this year, due to the overshadowing wall and the evil, evil Israelis.
In Manger Square, the Church of the Nativity on one side, the town hall and a mosque on the other, buses dump down tourists before heading off to park in a multi-storey car park especially set up to relieve traffic congestion.
Guides, decked out in plastic accreditations from the Palestinian tourism ministry, pussy-foot among the pilgrims to proffer guided tours of the Basilica and other Bethlehem hot spots.
Young people, bursting with enough festive spirit to dress up as Father Christmas, hand out sweets to children. As tradition befits, a large Christmas tree covered in wreaths and fairy lights towers over the square.
I don’t get it. Only a day or two ago, the Latin Patriarch said that the Jews were killing Christmas! What changed?
On Saturday, Jerusalem Patriarch Michel Sabbah will arrive to be greeted by local dignitaries in Manger Square before presiding over midnight mass and deliver his customary sermon calling for peace in the Holy Land.
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas, a Muslim, will be among the congregation. For the last three years of his life his late predecessor
Yasser Arafat was banned by Israel from attending.
Notice the lack of context for that banning. Hello, can you say, “Sponsor of terrorism against Israelis?” I knew you could
Hotel proprietors, brought to their knees by a near dry-up in business, may not have beds bursting at the seams but are starting to turn the corner on years of pain.
“The number of guests is larger than the last four years. I still have empty rooms but I am expecting more reservations at the last minute especially after midnight mass,” said Khaled al-Bandak, who runs the 107-room Grand downtown.
That’s funny. The AP and Christian Science Monitor said nobody was in town for the holiday.
To safeguard security, 800 police officers have been mobilised to protect Manger Square and the environs of the church, said local chief Issa Hijjo.
According to him, the Israeli army has agreed to abstain from military operations in Bethlehem from late Friday until early Tuesday in order to avoid any possible heightened tensions that could mar the Christmas festivities.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said only that crossings would be open 24 hours a day over the weekend in order to allow people from all over to visit the town for the Christian holiday.
Notice that the Israelis are, once again, putting themselves at risk so some other group (e.g., Christians or palestinians) can have their religious celebration. And when the terror attack happens, the calls for Israel to “show restraint” will be just as loud as ever.
Hijjo ruled out any question of trouble from local armed groups, such as when gunmen from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, linked to Abbas’s ruling
Fatah party, briefly occupied the offices of the mayor of Bethlehem last Tuesday.“Such an incident will not happen again,” he said.
I would ask how, but y’know, I know better. The proper people have been bribed. And the word has come down from above as well: “Don’t make us look bad in front of the world at Christmas. Wait until they’re ignoring us again.”
Once again, the world’s media bias against Israel in full-swing.
On the other hand, there are a few bright, shining stars of objectivity. Or at least, not negativity.