Bethlehem revives Christmas after Gaza war lull

Crowds pack Manger Square after two subdued seasons. Leaders call for peace.

- BY MELANIE LIDMAN

WOMEN in Palestinian dress in front of Manger Square on Christmas Eve.

(FAIZ ABU RMELEH Getty Images)

Thousands of people flocked to Bethlehem's Manger Square on Christmas Eve as families there and at other sites across the Holy Land heralded a muchneeded boost of holiday spirit, after two years of subdued celebrations because of the war in Gaza.

The city where Christians believe Jesus was born had canceled Christmas celebrations but Wednesday, the giant Christmas tree returned to Manger Square, temporarily replacing the wartime nativity scene of baby Jesus surrounded by rubble and barbed wire in an homage to Gaza's suffering.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Catholic leader in the Holy Land, kicked off this year's celebrations during the traditional procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, calling for "a Christmas full of light."

Pizzaballa said he came bearing greetings from Gaza's tiny Christian community, where he held a pre-Christmas Mass on Sunday. In the devastation, he said, he saw a desire to rebuild.

"We, all together, we decide to be the light, and the light of Bethlehem is the light of the world," he told thousands of people, both Christians and Muslims.

Despite the holiday cheer, the effect of the war in the Israeli-occupied West Bank is acute, especially in Bethlehem, where around 80% of the Muslim-majority city's residents depend upon tourism-related businesses, according to the local government.

The vast majority of people celebrating were residents, with a handful of foreigners. But some residents said they are starting to see signs of change as tourism slowly returns.

'Hope in very dark situations'