Bethlehem's Holiday Tree Lights Up Once Again Since the Outbreak of the Conflict

For two years during the Gaza war, every festive public event for Christmas were cancelled in Bethlehem located in the West Bank. This city is believed to be where the faithful hold the birth of Jesus occurred.

However, after the recent ceasefire, this sacred city decided that now the festivities would return, as symbolised by the illumination of its traditional, giant Christmas tree in front of the historic Nativity Church.

"We have endured two difficult years of silence; no Christmas, no employment, no income," remarks Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati. "We're all living here on tourism and the tourist trade was down to nothing."

He accepts that the decision of resuming celebrations faced some debate, given the ongoing hardship within Gaza – which affects members of the small Christian population, many of whom have relatives to Bethlehem.

"Some may say it's not appropriate while others contend it's appropriate," Mr Canawati explains. "However, in my heart, I felt that this was the right thing to do because the Christmas season must never be stopped or cancelled. This represents a beacon of hope for our community."

A Spark of Celebration Returns

Residents – both Christians and Muslims – pose for selfies in front of the tree decorated with red and gold baubles in Manger Square. They are accompanied by a small number of international visitors.

Vibrant lights now adorn city streets with signs promoting holiday markets and children's parties.

"We're very happy to have the tree, first thing, and to welcome visitors in Bethlehem and to be able to celebrate Christmas in its true spirit," says Bethlehem designer Nadya Hazboun.

"This is where it all started, therefore here is where we can convey a message to the world about what really Christmas should be about. And now, if the season is calm, I sincerely hope it will deliver a nice message for the entire world."

Economic Hopes and Challenges

The neighbouring towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour also intend to illuminate holiday trees soon. Hotels – which have stood mostly vacant for two years – are seeing a rise of bookings from Arab citizens of Israel along with some foreign visitors.

One tourist from Russia, named Angelica, is on her second pilgrimage to the Holy Land. "I think everyone needs to come at minimum one time during their lifetime," she states.

"I hope many visitors will soon come back as it is sorrowful with few tourists. The only thing that's good is you don't have long lines – one can visit and see more things. When I came before it was necessary to wait in a queue for hours at least."

Currently, the souvenir stores scattered throughout the city experience scant trade, and outside the cream-coloured walls of the Nativity Church, which originate from the Fourth Century, guides are mostly unoccupied. Before the conflict, it was often crammed with visitors.

"Bethlehem is a tourist city; without tourism there is no livelihood," laments a guide named Hamza. "We hope to see individuals returning like before: from Europe, the Middle East, America, Latin American and all over. 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. Following the lethal attacks led by Hamas on southern Israel during October 2023 that sparked the conflict, many thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank have been blocked from entering Israel and Israeli settlements for work.

Meanwhile, public servants have received only partial wages from the Palestinian Authority (PA) – that administers areas within the West Bank. The PA depends on tax income collected by Israel, which it is withholding – amounting to 1.76 billion dollars, as reported by a UN agency.

Israeli officials state they are retaining these funds because the Authority provides financial payments to incarcerated Palestinians that incentivise violence against Israelis. The authority – facing international pressure to enact reforms – says it has lately modified its social welfare system.

An Austere Holiday

The bleak economic outlook implies that for many Christian Palestinians, despite the fact that there are now public festivities in addition to religious services, it will be a subdued holiday season.

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

"We're preparing for Christmas after one of our most challenging times as a Palestinian people and as a Christian community," says one restaurant owner, an owner of a restaurant called Afteem, a decades-old family restaurant which has seen its revenues collapse. He says that recently numerous families could not even afford falafel – an inexpensive, traditional food.

"The faithful will attempt to mark the occasion but according to their circumstances," Mr Salameh expects. "An individual wishing to take his kids to a festival or the theatre or similar, they lack the money to spend on these celebrations."

Prayers for Peace and Prosperity

Within the grotto at the base of the church, a resident accompanies a tour group from India, stooping down by a silver star that indicates the location where it is said Jesus was born and lighting a light nearby.

Amid ongoing high tensions throughout the area, Bethlehem residents say they are praying for tranquility – and wishing for visitors to return to the location which is thought to be where Christmas started.