Bethlehem's Christmas Tree Lighting 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 cancelled in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. This place is believed to be where the faithful hold Jesus was born.

However, after the recent ceasefire, the holy city determined that now celebrations would make a comeback, as represented by the lighting of its traditional, giant Christmas tree before the ancient Church of the Nativity.

"We have endured a bad two years without celebration; no holiday, no jobs, no work," remarks the city's mayor Maher Canawati. "We're all living here on tourism and the tourist trade was down to nothing."

He accepts that the idea of resuming celebrations faced some controversy, as suffering continues within Gaza – which affects members of the tiny Christian community, many of whom have family ties in Bethlehem.

"Certain voices argue it is unsuitable while others contend it is fitting," Mr Canawati explains. "But deep inside my heart, I believed this constituted the right thing to do because Christmas must never be halted or abandoned. This is the light of hope for our community."

A Spark of Celebration Returns

Locals – from both Christian and Muslim faiths – take photographs before the tree decorated with gold and red ornaments in Manger Square. They are accompanied by a handful of foreign tourists.

Brightly coloured lights now decorate the streets with signs promoting holiday markets and festive events for children.

"We are delighted to have the tree, first of all, and to welcome visitors in Bethlehem and to be able to celebrate Christmas in its true spirit," comments local jewellery designer Nadya Hazboun.

"This place is where everything began, therefore here is where we can send a message to the world about what Christmas truly represents. And this year, if the season is calm, then I hope it will deliver a positive message for the entire world."

Economic Prospects and Challenges

The neighbouring towns including Beit Jala and Beit Sahour are also planning to illuminate holiday trees in the coming days. Local hotels – which have remained mostly vacant for the past two years – are seeing a rise of bookings from Arab citizens of Israel along with certain international tourists.

A visitor from Russia, named Angelica, is on her second pilgrimage to this region. "In my view every person should visit at minimum one time during their lifetime," she says.

"I hope many visitors will soon come back as it is sorrowful without many tourists. The only thing that's good is that you don't have long lines – you can come and see more things. When I came before you had to wait in line for a few hours at least."

For now, the souvenir stores scattered throughout Bethlehem have little business, and near the cream-coloured walls of the Nativity Church, which originate from the 4th century, tour guides are mostly unoccupied. Before the conflict, it was often crammed with visitors.

"This is a tourist city; absent visitors there is no life," expresses one guide Hamza. "We aspire to have people coming back like before: from European nations, the Middle Eastern region, America, Latin America and all over. We begin with lighting the tree, and we'll wait."

The Persistent Economic Toll

Over the last two years, joblessness has soared in Bethlehem. Following the lethal Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel during October 2023 that sparked the conflict, many thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank have been prevented from entering Israel and Israeli settlements to work.

Meanwhile, government employees have been paid only partial salaries by the Palestinian Authority (PA) – that administers parts of the West Bank. The Authority depends on tax income gathered by Israel, which it is withholding – to the tune of $1.76 billion, as reported by a UN agency.

Israel says they are retaining the funds due to the fact that the PA makes financial payments to incarcerated Palestinians that incentivise attacks on Israelis. The PA – facing global pressure to make reforms – claims it has lately modified its welfare system.

A Modest Holiday

The bleak economic situation means that for numerous Christian Palestinians, even though there are currently public festivities in addition to religious services, it will constitute an austere Christmas.

On the periphery of the square, some patrons are waiting to purchase hot balls of falafel from several shops.

"We are getting ready for the holiday after one of our hardest periods as Palestinians and as Christians," states one restaurant owner, an owner of a restaurant called Afteem, a long-established family-run eatery which has seen its income plummet. He says lately numerous families could not even purchase falafel – an inexpensive, traditional food.

"The faithful will attempt to mark the occasion but according to their situation," Mr Salameh expects. "An individual wishing to bring their children to a festive event or the theatre or whatever, he doesn't have the money to spend on these celebrations."

Hopes for Peace and Prosperity

Within the grotto beneath the church, a resident follows a small Indian tour group, bending down by a silver star which marks the spot where tradition states that Jesus was born and igniting a light nearby.

Amid ongoing high tensions throughout the area, Bethlehem residents say they are praying for peace – and hoping for visitors to return to the location where it is believed where Christmas started.