Associated Press
Dec 24 2004
Israel prepares to welcome Christians
Officials hope relaxed Palestinian-Israeli tensions will encourage
visits to Bethlehem.
Visitors touch a column in the Church of the Nativity, traditionally
believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in Bethlehem.
Enric Marti / the Associated Press
By Peter Enav
Associated Press
Jerusalem — Israel is taking special steps to ensure a merry
Christmas in Bethlehem, a military official said Thursday, raising
hopes for a gentler holiday in the traditional birthplace of Jesus
after four years of Israeli-Palestinian violence.
International attention focuses on the West Bank town on Christmas
Eve, so Israeli officials see an improved Christmas atmosphere there
as a boon to Israel’s troubled image.
“The importance of Bethlehem to the Christian world is clear to us,”
said Lt. Col. Aviv Feigel, head of the army’s Bethlehem district
liaison office. “We in the army are preparing ourselves for this
momentous occasion.”
The main difference with previous years is the perception of lessened
tensions since the Nov. 11 death of Yasser Arafat. Israel accused him
of involvement in Palestinian violence and is hoping for a more
pragmatic, nonviolent leadership to replace him.
Briefing reporters on preparations for Bethlehem, Feigel said Israel
would transfer security control there to Palestinian forces between
Christmas Eve and the Armenian Christmas on Jan. 19. He said Israeli
soldiers manning Bethlehem area checkpoints also would be given
detailed instructions on how to deal with Christian visitors.
Shortly after the latest Palestinian uprising began four years ago,
Israel took control of main West Bank towns and roads, setting up
dozens of roadblocks. Bethlehem is surrounded by posts controlling
entry and exit, and the barrier that Israel is building in the West
Bank cuts through the town.
Within that framework, the military said it would allow Israeli and
Gaza Christians to visit Bethlehem and would not restrict the numbers
of West Bank Palestinians arriving there.
“Every soldier at the checkpoints will receive a detailed sheet of
information about the importance of Bethlehem to Christians, so they
will know how to behave,” Feigel said.
A town of 40,000 people 4 miles south of Jerusalem, Bethlehem was
once a magnet for foreign visitors during the Christmas season, with
tens of thousands crowding Manger Square during the annual midnight
Mass on Christmas Eve.
But the numbers dropped precipitously after violence resumed in
September 2000, falling to only 2,000 last year. This year Israeli
officials are expecting about 4,000 visitors, because of the recent
reduction in violence and the more relaxed atmosphere.
–Boundary_(ID_lKf1cjUn+zmbdTyyzxTdHA)–