Christmas is 'cancelled' in Bethlehem

The Times ^ | December 16, 2002 | Stephen Farrell

[MadIvan]

CHRISTMAS is cancelled in the streets, if not the churches, of Bethlehem.

As Israel announced that its troops would remain on the streets of Christ’s birthplace and that Yassir Arafat would be barred from attending celebrations, church and civic leaders announced that festivities would be kept to a minimum. The 25ft Christmas tree in the grounds of Manger Square would remain unadorned and the £130,000 display of street lights unlit.

Hanna Nasser, the Mayor of Bethlehem, said that the decision had been simple: there was no stomach for festivities in a town whose 30,000 Palestinian inhabitants have nothing to spend, little to eat and are forced to stay in their homes for days at a time.

“Our infrastructure, our buildings, streets and pavements have been destroyed. We are not able to fix the millions of pounds of damage because the Israelis have only lifted the curfew for a few days in the last three weeks,” Mr Nasser, a Christian, said.

“When people are allowed out for a few hours, they must rush to buy food and bring their sick to hospital. Nobody feels like celebrating.”

The Israeli Government insists that tanks and troops must remain on the streets to ensure security for its own citizens after a wave of suicide bombings. Israeli armour rolled back into Bethlehem after a Hamas suicide bomber living in the city killed 11 bus passengers in Jerusalem on November 21.

Yesterday Israel said that while Mr Arafat’s presence would be prohibited for the second year running, Bethlehem would remain open to everyone else. The news was greeted with anger and resignation in Manger Square.

Until last year Mr Arafat, a Muslim married into a prominent Christian family, had attended every Christmas Mass since 1995. His wife, Suha, usually turns on the tree lights.

Mr Nasser said that the Israeli action broke a tradition dating back to the British mandate, and subsequent Jordanian and Israeli control, that dignitaries were invited from the ruling authority. “This is unwise and unhelpful. They are mixing religion and politics,” he said.

Israel accuses Mr Arafat of cynically portraying himself as a guardian of Christian shrines while allowing Muslim gunmen to make the Christian population’s life a misery.

Clerics in the 4th-century Church of the Nativity — shared between Franciscans, Greek Orthodox and Armenians — insisted that Midnight Mass and other ceremonies would remain unchanged. However, in a town where 60 per cent of the population is dependent on a tourist trade that vanished upon the outbreak of the intifada, storage rooms inside the church are filled with charity parcels of flour, pasta, pulses and wheat.

Father Ibrahim Faltas, a spokesman for the Franciscans, said: “Across the world billions of people will be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, but here, at the centre of all this attention, Christians cannot celebrate. We don’t have the money and it is not right with people in such miserable circumstances. Our main concern is not decorations, it is getting food for the people.”

[MadIvan]

Christmas should be celebrated in the birthplace of Jesus Christ nonetheless. How much does it cost to have a Mass?

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[NewCenturions]

I hate when they say Christmas is 'cancelled'. The celebrations may be cancelled but Christ's birthday comes no matter what. (just a pet peeve of mine)

[Poohbah]

Alan Rickman in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves:

"And call off Christmas!"

[Bill Davis FR]

Christmas is 'cancelled' in Bethlehem

so the grinch did steal christmas this year...

[Petronski]

So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear. And he did hear a sound rising over the snow. It started in low. Then it started to grow...

But the sound wasn't sad! Why, this sound sounded merry! It couldn't be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!

He stared down at Who-ville! The Grinch popped his eyes! Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!

Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, Was singing! Without any presents at all!

He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?" "It came with out ribbons! It came without tags!" "It came without packages, boxes or bags!"

And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store." "Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

[Aliska]

It's not clear that they cancelled the mass, but perhaps just the festive activities associated with it.

[Fred Mertz]

“Across the world billions of people will be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, but here, at the centre of all this attention, Christians cannot celebrate. We don’t have the money and it is not right with people in such miserable circumstances. Our main concern is not decorations, it is getting food for the people.”

This isn't a good sign.

[Thinkin' Gal]

“Our infrastructure, our buildings, streets and pavements have been destroyed. We are not able to fix the millions of pounds of damage because the Israelis have only lifted the curfew for a few days in the last three weeks,” Mr Nasser, a Christian, said.

“When people are allowed out for a few hours, they must rush to buy food and bring their sick to hospital. Nobody feels like celebrating.”

What is the matter... is Suha the only one authorized to turn on the lights? Toss this guy a video so he can watch the Whos down in Whoville celebrate Christmas. Looks like some people WANT to blame Israel for cancelling Christmas.

Thank you IDF. Go Israel.

[Norman Arbuthnot]

I don't even think Suha is a Christian any longer. I thought Yasser made her convert ti Islam. And I don't think Arafat really cares all that much about the few Christians that are left on the West Bank.

[ex-snook]

"so the grinch did steal christmas this year... "

At least it was not 'kill all males under two' which Herod unsucessfully tried to prevent Christmas.

[VOA]

Father Ibrahim Faltas, a spokesman for the Franciscans, said:
Jesus Christ, but here, at the centre of all this attention, Christians cannot celebrate.
We don’t have the money and it is not right with people in such
miserable circumstances.

Boy howdy, I must have been asleep in my theology classes when the monetary requirement
for celebration of Christ's birth was discussed.
I'll need to get over to www.gospelcom.net and use their Bible Gateway to do some
searches for "money, christmas" in The Holy Bible.

Our main concern is not decorations, it is getting food for the people.”

Well, I'll give the fellow credit. He did return to some of the first principles of
Christianity...

Forgive me for being so hard on the "spokesman".

If the Palestinians had asked the Israeli military to provide souped-up security at
Bethlehem, broke out all the decorations they could find, and had the Palestinian Authority
arrest as many bomb-makers/users as possible...Bethlehem might (and yes,
might means it would still require an act of faith on the part of tourists)
be simply AWASH in tourist dollars.

But, once again the Palestinians decide it's all the fault of the Isrealis
and anyone who supports them.

The Palestinians never fail to live down to Israeli Ambassador Abba Eben (sp?) saying:
"The Palestinians never miss a chance to miss a chance."

[gcruse]

Christmas is 'cancelled' in Bethlehem

Joseph confessed?

[Nix 2]

"Christians cannot celebrate."

Why not, Fred? Christ was born in a stable. These monks live in relative splendor and can ask for much more if they need to. If they give food to the poor, fine. If they don't realize that Hamas would not waste a single moment in plotting the murders of tourists, fine. But if they do not realize that it is the BIRTH they are to celebrate, not the BUCKS, then something has gone bass ackwards in that Church.

[Phil V.]

But if they do not realize that it is the BIRTH they are to celebrate, not the BUCKS, . . .

Please confirm that you have spent not . . . that your "celebration" is inward . . . that you personally practice what you suggest is proper for the wretches of Bethlehem.

[Cindy]

"A CHRISTmas Celebration!" (click here)

[Nix 2]

I celebrate the Lord every day of my life. It costs nothing but enduring faith, not money. If it's money that makes the day important, then you have not heard the message from His own mouth.

[Alouette]

The 25ft Christmas tree in the grounds of Manger Square would remain unadorned and the £130,000 display of street lights unlit.

And this has to do with the birth of Christ what exactly?

[Delbert]

Well said.