BETHLEHEM FEELS PAIN OF GAZA WAR
“As Bethlehem lights its Christmas tree, the deep anguish endured by our people in Gaza does not leave our hearts”, Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati told reporters this week.
“The wound of Gaza is our wound, the people of Gaza are our people, and the light of Christmas has no meaning unless it first touches the hearts of the afflicted, and the oppressed all over Palestine”.
In Bethlehem, Palestinians said that they were hopeful that Christmas and the new year would bring peace after two years of what some described as agony and pain. They hoped that Saturday’s ceremony would bring some joy for those suffering in Gaza.
“We are looking for hope”, said Diana Babush, a Palestinian in her 50s from Bethlehem.
“We are looking that, from this moment, peace will prevail. We hope that we can have peace and prosperity”.
In contrast to the time before the war in Gaza, there were no fireworks following the lighting of the Christmas tree, a solemn nod to the uncertainty of the future.
“It’s scary because no one knows what will happen in the future. But we are hopeful”, said Bsoul from Haifa.
