Bethlehem's Christmas Tree Illuminates Once Again Since the Start of the Gaza War

For two years amid the Gaza war, all public celebrations marking the holiday season were called off in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. This place is where the faithful hold Jesus was born.

However, following a recent truce, this sacred city decided that this year the festivities would return, as represented by the lighting of its traditional, large holiday tree in front of the historic Nativity Church.

"We have endured a bad two years of silence; no Christmas, no jobs, no income," remarks Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati. "Our community survives on tourism and the tourist trade was down to nothing."

The mayor acknowledges that the decision of resuming celebrations faced some debate, as suffering continues in Gaza – including for those in its small Christian population, many of whom have relatives to Bethlehem.

"Some may say it's not appropriate and others say it is fitting," Mr Canawati explains. "But deep inside my heart, I felt that this was the right thing to do because Christmas must never be stopped or cancelled. This represents the light of hope for us."

A Glimmer of Celebration Returns

Locals – both Christians and Muslims – take photographs 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 with signs advertising Christmas bazaars and festive events for children.

"We are delighted to have the tree, first thing, and to welcome visitors to Bethlehem and to be able to observe the holiday in its true spirit," says local jewellery designer Nadya Hazboun.

"This is where it all started, therefore here is where we can convey the message to the world about what Christmas truly represents. And this year, if the season is calm, I sincerely hope it will bring a nice message for the entire world."

Economic Prospects and Challenges

Nearby towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour are also planning to illuminate Christmas trees in the coming days. Local hotels – which have stood mostly vacant for the past two years – have an influx of bookings from Arab citizens of Israel as well as some foreign visitors.

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

"I hope many visitors will return soon as it is sorrowful without many tourists. The sole aspect that's good is that you don't have lengthy queues – 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 souvenir stores scattered throughout the city experience scant trade, and outside the pale walls of the Church of the Nativity, which date back to the Fourth Century, guides are mostly unoccupied. Prior to the conflict, it was typically packed with visitors.

"Bethlehem is a tourist city; without tourism there is no life," laments one guide Hamza. "We hope to see individuals returning as in the past: from Europe, the Middle Eastern region, the Americas, Latin America and everywhere. We start with lighting the tree, and then we will wait."

The Persistent Economic Toll

In the past two years, joblessness has soared within Bethlehem. Following the deadly attacks led by Hamas on southern Israel during October 2023 that sparked the war, many thousands of Palestinian labourers from the West Bank have been blocked from entering Israel and its settlements to work.

Meanwhile, government employees have been paid just a portion of their salaries by the Palestinian Authority (PA) – which governs parts of the West Bank. The Authority depends on tax revenues collected by Israel, which it is withholding – amounting to 1.76 billion dollars, according to the UN's trade and development agency.

Israeli officials state it is holding the funds due to the fact that the PA makes financial payments to Palestinian prisoners that encourage attacks on Israelis. The authority – which has been under international pressure to make reforms – claims it has recently changed its social welfare system.

A Modest Christmas Season

The grim economic situation implies that for many Christian Palestinians, even though there are currently public events as well as religious services, it will constitute a subdued holiday season.

On the periphery of Manger Square, a few customers are waiting to purchase sizzling balls of falafel from a row of shops.

"We are getting ready for Christmas following one of our hardest periods as a Palestinian people and as a Christian community," says one restaurant owner, who runs Afteem, a decades-old family-run eatery which has seen its revenues collapse. He says that recently numerous families could not even afford falafel – an inexpensive, traditional snack.

"Christians will try to celebrate but based on their situation," Mr Salameh expects. "An individual wishing to take his kids to a festival or the theatre or similar, he doesn't have the money to spend for this celebration."

Prayers for Calm and Recovery

In the cave-like grotto at the base of the church, a resident follows a tour group from India, bending down near a silver star which marks the location where it is said that Jesus was born and lighting a light nearby.

Amid ongoing high tensions across the region, people in Bethlehem say they are praying for peace – and hoping for tourists to come back to the location where it is believed where Christmas started.