CNS STORY: This year, Christmas Eve in Bethlehem brings hope for some residents

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CHRISTMAS-BETHLEHEM Dec-28-2004 (920 words) With photos. xxxi

This year, Christmas Eve in Bethlehem brings hope for some residents

By Judith Sudilovsky
Catholic News Service

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (CNS) -- On Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, there was hope.

Unlike the past several years, this year visitors in Manger Square were not limited to foreign workers and diplomats, but included pilgrims who had come for the Christmas holiday.

Palestinian and Israeli tourism ministries had launched a campaign to promote tourism to Bethlehem for the season. Busloads of pilgrims -- many from Nigeria -- streamed in and out of the city Dec. 24 to visit the Church of the Nativity.

Ayacx Mercedes, 35, came with a group of Latin American students studying in England.

"We are Catholic, and Christmas is a very special time to be in Bethlehem," said Mercedes, a resident of the Dominican Republic.

"Since we are already far away from our families during this holiday, we wanted to at least have a meaningful spiritual experience," added Shajira Nazir, 23, also from the Dominican Republic.

As for fear of terrorism or other violence, fellow Dominican Victor Simon, 24, laughed and said, "We are from Third World countries ourselves, so we are not afraid."

They watched the holiday festivities that began as Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem made his traditional entrance to Bethlehem and Manger Square through the Israeli military checkpoint. Despite the threat of clouds, the rain did not begin until after the traditional procession -- which included marching bands -- finished midafternoon.

Throughout the day at the Israeli checkpoint, representatives of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism passed out two bags of sweets to each pilgrim, asking that one be given to a Palestinian child as a "bridge of peace."

Some area residents said that for the first time since the Palestinian uprising began in 2000, they felt a sense of optimism. Others said they were pleased that the interim Palestinian leadership -- Mahmoud Abbas, Rawhi Fattuh and Ahmed Qureia -- attended midnight Mass. For the last three years, the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was unable to attend Bethlehem services; Israelis kept him in virtual imprisonment in his compound in Ramallah, West Bank.

"Every year when Christmas comes it is a new hope, a new possibility," said Munir al Gawali, 35. He said the political arena showed signs of hope since Arafat's death, and "we must take this hope, (even if) it is just a little bit."

For the local youth it was a time to see and be seen. Groups of young people -- the girls with their high-heeled shoes and boots, colorful caps and hip-hugging jeans and the boys with their gelled hair, leather jackets and faded jeans -- strolled through Manger Square, greeting each other.

"We are happy to see the children celebrating, and we can see our friends who have gone abroad and have returned for Christmas," said Rasha Hanona, 18, as she stood chatting with her friends.

Mary Zomout, 50, of Jerusalem said that unlike other days Christmas Eve had been an easy day to get through the military checkpoint so she could celebrate Christmas with her parents.

"Today is good, thank God," she said as she held the arm of her elderly father, who was craning his neck to watch the procession. "We are happy here with the children. God will help us."

Suha Kharoufeh, 38, a Palestinian who lives in Australia with her husband and four children, returned for the first time in nine years to celebrate the holiday. Her family had planned to come in 2000, but then the intifada began.

"We feel more hope now, like something good will happen," she said.

"Normally people associate this part of the world with Islam, and I didn't quite understand the number of Christian Arabs there are," said Jeff Eison, 36, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the United States, who visits Israel four times a year to give motivational workshops. "It is a special thing to realize there are a lot of Arab Christians."

Being in Bethlehem at Christmas gave Ecuadorean resident Mauricio Fierro, 22, a "deep feeling of satisfaction." Fierro was in Israel for a month, volunteering in a kibbutz.

"I know how many Catholics would like to be here, and I have to thank God that I am able to be here tonight. I am not at all afraid," Fierro said, adding that he had expected to see more people.

Bethlehem's restaurants were filled with customers for lunch and dinner.

Some pilgrims escaped the rain by ducking into the Orient Palace Hotel, taking advantage of its proximity to the Church of the Nativity to have dinner or a cup of coffee as they waited to enter the church for Mass.

"It's something I have really been looking forward to. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be in the place where Christ was born on the day his birth is celebrated," said American Brenda Fulkerson, 26, a Fulbright scholar studying Israel's Samaritan community. She ate dinner at the hotel before going to Mass.

"The hotel owner told us that Bethlehem is our home, the home of all Christians. It made me feel very welcome," she said.

Her fiance, Brian McNamara, 43, came for a two-week visit.

"If you are religious it is important to come here ... or if you love history you have to be here. But if you are coming for a nice tourist vacation, it won't be easy for you. There are unnecessary frustrations. It won't be like going to see Paris or Athens," he said.

END

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