If there is a city that embodies Christmas, it is Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank. For Christians around the world, this is where Jesus was born. After two years of pandemic and border closures due to the coronavirus, tourists and pilgrims are back.
With our special correspondent Bethlehem, Alice Froussard
From 11 am, this Saturday, December 24, at the entrance to the old city, parades of scouts awaited the arrival of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Mgr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, in front of hundreds of tourists returning after the pandemic years and then, the journalists’ cameras.
Everyone then accompanied him with fanfare through the famous rue de l’étoile, the one that Joseph and Marie had taken at the time. And then they went to the Basilica of the Nativity. A precious ritual for many pilgrims, for tourists, and then, for the Christian community of Bethlehem.
A shrinking Christian community
The Christian community in Bethlehem is dwindling over the years for lack of space, for lack of land, as the iconic Christmas town is surrounded by Israeli settlements and is behind the 8-meter-high separation wall. It’s true that it’s impressive when you see it in real life, told us Laure, a Frenchwoman who came with her family.
The more we are there, the more we are impregnated. Tonight, I think it’s magic!
Laure, a Frenchwoman, came to celebrate Christmas with her family
In any case, on the place of the manger, between the Basilica of the nativity and the mosque of Omar, a large fir tree has been erected, a nativity scene in olive wood. And then, all around, there are also these souvenir shops that savor the return of tourists, but also tell us that the recovery is weak. This is nevertheless good news for the economy and for Palestinian employment, despite a sluggish year. 2022 being the deadliest for Palestinians and Israelis since 2006.
This has nothing to compare with business before the pre-coronavirus period, however, as visitors are there more to enjoy the magic of Christmas than to buy souvenirs.