Tourists and local Christians gather in
birthplace of Jesus to mark Christmas Eve
despite hurdles of the occupation

Thousands of pilgrims and tourists from
around the world together with local Christians
have gathered in the biblical town of
Bethlehem in the occupied Palestinian territory
of West Bank to celebrate Christmas Eve in the
traditional birthplace of Jesus.
Security was tight in Bethlehem on Saturday
after recent deadly attacks on Christian targets
in neighbouring Egypt and Jordan by armed
fighters.
Yet the faithful braved the chilly weather
outside the town's Manger Square as
traditional Christmas songs like Jingle Bells
played in Arabic over loudspeakers and scout
groups paraded with bagpipes and sang carols.
Tourists and local Christians alike wandered
around the square illuminated by festive red
and golden lights and a large Christmas tree,
visiting souvenir shops and restaurants.
The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, today
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Christmas festivities have brought a boost of
holiday cheer to Christians in the Holy Land,
who make up just a small percentage of the
population.
The region has experienced a wave of Israeli-
Palestinian bloodshed that erupted over a year
ago. The violence has tapered off in recent
months, but has not halted completely.
Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons, reporting from
Bethlehem, said there was a mood of optimism
among the Palestinians there after the UN
Security Council passed a resolution on Friday
calling for an end to illegal Israeli settlements.
He said the Palestinians he met there were
thankful for the move.
"Just down the road from the Church of the
Nativity, there is a settlement of 25,000 Israeli
homes," he said.
"Palestinians say it stands in the way of
Bethlehem and the occupied East Jerusalem.
That they say is an obstacle to peace."
Despite the cheer, Middle East politics loom
large in the background [Majdi Mohammed/
AP]
Rula Maaya, the Palestinian tourism minister,
said all the hotels in Bethlehem are fully
booked.
"Bethlehem is celebrating today. We are
receiving tourists from all over the world," she
said.
"All people over the world are looking at
Bethlehem, so we hope more and more tourists
will come during the year and that, next year,
we will celebrate Christmas without
occupation."
Despite the Christmas cheer, Middle East
politics looms large in the background: the
concrete barrier that surrounds parts of
Bethlehem is just one prominent reminder.
It was built by Israel last decade during the
second intifada, or uprising, when Palestinian
bombers attacked buses and cafes.
Israeli says the barrier is meant to keep out
such attackers, but because it dips inside the
West Bank, Palestinians see it as a land grab
that also stunts their economy.
Security is tight around Manger Square in
Bethlehem for Christmas Eve [Atef Safadi/EPA]


Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies