The Christmas Tree Illuminates Once Again After the Start of the Conflict

Throughout a two-year period amid the Gaza war, all public celebrations marking the holiday season were called off in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. This city is where the faithful hold Jesus was born.

However, after the recent ceasefire, this sacred city decided that now celebrations would return, as symbolised by the lighting of its traditional, giant Christmas tree before the historic Nativity Church.

"It's been a bad two years without celebration; no Christmas, no employment, no work," remarks the city's mayor Maher Canawati. "We're all living here from tourism and tourism was down to nothing."

The mayor accepts that the decision to restart festivities was not without debate, given the ongoing hardship within Gaza – which affects those in its small Christian population, who often have family ties to Bethlehem.

"Certain voices argue it is unsuitable while others contend it is fitting," Mr Canawati explains. "However, in my heart, I felt that this was the correct action to do since the Christmas season should never be stopped or cancelled. This represents the light of hope for our community."

A Glimmer of Celebration Reappears

Residents – both Christians and Muslims – pose for selfies before the tree decorated with gold and red ornaments in Manger Square. They are accompanied by a handful of international visitors.

Brightly coloured lights now adorn city streets and there are signs promoting Christmas bazaars and children's parties.

"We're very happy to have the tree, first thing, and to see foreigners to Bethlehem and to be able to observe the holiday in its authentic spirit," comments Bethlehem designer Nadya Hazboun.

"This is where it all started, therefore here is where we can convey the message globally about what Christmas truly represents. And now, if the season is calm, I sincerely hope it will deliver a nice message for the whole world."

Economic Hopes and Difficulties

The neighbouring towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour are also planning to light Christmas trees in the coming days. Hotels – which have stood mostly vacant for two years – are seeing a rise 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. "In my view everyone needs to come at least once during their lifetime," she says.

"I hope a lot of people will return soon because it's sad with few tourists. The sole aspect that's good is that you don't have long lines – you can come and see more things. On my prior visit it was necessary to wait in a queue for a few hours at least."

For now, the gift shops scattered throughout the city have little business, and outside the cream-coloured walls of the Church of the Nativity, which originate from the 4th century, guides are mostly unoccupied. Prior to the Gaza war, it was often crammed with people.

"This is a city for tourists; without tourism there is no life," laments a guide named Hamza. "We aspire to see individuals coming back as in the past: from Europe, the Middle East, America, Latin America and all over. We start with the Christmas tree lighting, and we'll wait."

The Persistent Economic Impact

In the past two years, unemployment has skyrocketed in Bethlehem. Since the lethal Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel in October 2023 which triggered the war, many thousands of Palestinian labourers from the West Bank region have been prevented from entering Israel and Israeli settlements for work.

At the same time, government employees have been paid just a portion of their wages from the Palestinian Authority (PA) – which governs parts of the West Bank. The PA relies on tax revenues gathered by Israel, which it is currently holding – amounting to 1.76 billion dollars, as reported by the UN's trade and development agency.

Israeli officials state they are retaining these funds because the PA makes payments to Palestinian prisoners that incentivise violence against Israelis. The PA – facing international pressure to enact reforms – says it has recently changed its social welfare system.

An Austere Holiday

The bleak economic situation implies that for numerous Palestinian Christians, despite the fact that there are now public events as well as religious services, it will constitute an austere Christmas.

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

"We're preparing for the holiday after one of our most challenging times as a Palestinian people and as Christians," says one restaurant owner, who runs a restaurant called Afteem, a decades-old family-run eatery that has witnessed its revenues collapse. He notes that recently numerous families could not even purchase falafel – an inexpensive, traditional snack.

"The faithful will attempt to celebrate but based on their circumstances," Mr Salameh anticipates. "An individual wishing to bring their children to a festival or a show or whatever, he doesn't have the money to spend for this celebration."

Hopes for Calm and Recovery

In the cave-like grotto beneath the Nativity Church, a resident follows a tour group from India, stooping down near a silver star which marks the location where tradition states that Jesus was born and lighting a candle close by.

With tensions still high throughout the area, people in Bethlehem say they are praying for tranquility – and wishing for tourists to come back to the place where it is believed where Christmas started.