once Again it is christmas, and Bethlehem where Jesus was born two thousand years ago, – now as in the time – occupied by a foreign power. Then it was the roman soldiers, now israeli.
Many christian palestinians can’t celebrate their christmas in Bethlehem. To the need for different permit to pass all the checkpoints, walls and barriers – the state of man in most cases do not receive.
had Previously Bethlehem to about half the christian population. Under the pressure of the occupation has many christians, however, fled, and the proportion of christians in the city is now down to around 10%.
filled with finely carved figures from the life of Jesus, empty of tourists. The occupation put a wet blanket over the christian tradition, and press away much, except it is strictly jewish.
the Occupation affects all palestinians, christians and muslims, alike. All are deprived of their right to travel freely, to leave and return to their homes when they want, and visit anyone they wish.
They are prevented by the walls when they get to schools and workplaces, and forced to stand in hour-long queues for the ”control” of the military checkpoints. Each and every day. All the year round.
seized by an increasingly larger group of aggressive and armed jewish settlers cutting down olive trees, polluting wells and destroying property. And they are expected to politely tolerate in anticipation of an international community that never seems to come to their help.
Even inside Israel is increasing religious repression. Christian palestinians who travel to their workplaces on Saturdays – the jewish holiday – are subjected to stone throwing by orthodox jewish young people.
explains Israel as a land reserved for exclusive jewish development, welcomes more jewish communities and the abolition of the Arabic – spoken by Israel’s 20% palestinian citizens – as the official language.
Christmas in Bethlehem should be a feast of judaism, christianity and islam. Instead, we see an increasingly högerextrem religious jewish nationalism to take over the Holy land.
How long will we accept this? It is time to speak up and demand equal rights for all Israel’s citizens, and a Palestine free from occupation, in which all adherents of religions can celebrate a joint christmas in peace in Bethlehem.
