Recent reports have been released about people in the UK replacing Christmas services with parties and shopping. However, this image comes in complete contrast with Israeli Christians, who are restricted greatly by their movements during Christmas.
Yesterday, the United Nations (UN) published the report entitled, "Costs of Conflict: The Changing Face of Bethlehem." As a place that has long been disturbed by the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, not only do many people flee from the warring land, but foreigners too also avoid entering the region.
Bethlehem was consumed by violence when the Palestinian revolt began in Israeli-occupied territories in 2000. UN reports said that a total of 2,071 Palestinian Christian families from the region have gone abroad since September 2000. This accounts for nearly one tenth of the Christian community in the area.
Bethlehem, the holy birthplace of Jesus Christ, used to be a destination of pilgrims or a hot tourist point for people from all over the world. However, the UN report lamented, "Once a bustling cultural and spiritual centre hosting tourists and pilgrims from around the world, Bethlehem has become an isolated town, with boarded-up shops and abandoned development projects."
According to the UN report, Bethlehem is surrounded by 78 physical obstructions erected by the Israeli army. Furthermore, apart from 10 checkpoints and 55 dirt mounds blocking the roads, the city is partially dissected by 10.4 kilometres (16.7 miles) of separation barrier. Bethlehem is now isolated from the rest of the West Bank and most importantly from Jerusalem which is only a few miles away.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the U.N. Office of the Special Coordinator for the Peace Process in the Middle East condemned Israel for imposing security measures to restrict Bethlehem’s Christian and Muslim worshippers from accessing their holy sites in Jerusalem.
Israel is accused of breaching international law, which stated that Israel should ensure access to Christian, Jewish and Muslim holy places under its control.
"Restricting access to Jerusalem’s and Bethlehem’s holy sites runs the risk of aggravating religious divisions in an area that has historical and religious importance for those of the Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths alike," the report commented on the influence.
Palestinian Christian mayor of Bethlehem, Hanner Nasser, talks during a press conference in the West Bank town of Bethlehem last week. Nasser blasted Israel for its "oppressive siege" of the holy city which he said was forcing Christians to leave in ever increasing numbers.
The top Roman Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land, Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, on delivering his annual Christmas message on Tuesday expressed his sorrow, "The Israeli authorities resumed the work to complete the wall, which makes Bethlehem a big prison."
"Bethlehem should be a free city," Sabbah added, "It is a symbol of peace, a symbol for all the Christian world and all humanity."
Sabbah stated that only when the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories comes to an end, the land can enjoy peace.
"Ending the oppression and the humiliation of the Palestinians would at the same time put an end to the fear and insecurity of the Israelis," he said.