Christmas returns to Bethlehem after two-year pause, with ‘half joy, half sadness’
Bethlehem, occupied West Bank: Christmas celebrations returned to Bethlehem after a two-year suspension, on Wednesday evening. Scout troupes marched through Manger Square and surrounding streets, with carols, drums and brass music, blending Christian tradition with Palestinian cultural identity.
The gathering on Christmas Eve drew around 1,500 people, including local residents, Palestinians from across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and foreign visitors. For many, the revival of public celebrations carried deep emotional weight in a city revered as the birthplace of Jesus, after two years in which festivities were halted in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Among those present was Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, the highest-ranking Catholic cleric in Palestine. Addressing the crowd, he said Bethlehem had chosen to be a symbol of hope for the world. Referring to his recent visit to Gaza, Pizzaballa recalled witnessing widespread destruction alongside a strong will to live and said Palestinians would rebuild and celebrate again despite devastation.
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Israeli military raids and checkpoints remained in place across the occupied West Bank. Israeli forces arrested three young men from the Dheisheh and Aida refugee camps near Bethlehem just hours before the festivities began.
George Zalloum, a Palestinian Christian from occupied East Jerusalem, said the atmosphere carried both celebration and sorrow. He noted that people in Gaza continues to die, but expressed his hope that the war would end and peace would return to the Holy Land.
According to a BBC report, several visitors said they waited for hours at Israeli checkpoints despite living relatively close to the city. Hussam Zraiqat, who travelled from Birzeit near Ramallah, said the journey was difficult due to prolonged delays. Ghassan Rizqallah from the village of Jifna described waiting more than an hour and a half before being allowed to enter.
Rizqallah told BBC, watching the scout bands and hearing traditional music revived memories of Palestine’s past and reinforced the belief that its people deserved safety and peace.
BBC quoted Bethlehem’s mayor, Maher Canawati, saying that celebrations carried a message beyond the city, describing them as a statement of steadfastness and hope for Bethlehem, Gaza and all Palestinians. He said the event conveyed to the world that Palestinians value life and peace and remain rooted in their land.
Bethlehem’s hotels, many of which had been closed for nearly two years, reopened to receive visitors. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism, hotel occupancy had remained at about 25 percent for much of the year. Elias al-Arja, head of the Palestinian Hotel Association, said losses had reached around $300m, but occupancy rose to 80 percent during the Christmas period, with roughly 8,000 visitors arriving, including Palestinian citizens of Israel and tourists from Europe and the United States.
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Some visitors came specifically to witness the celebrations. Dwayne Jefferson, who travelled from North Carolina in the United States, said the return of Christmas in Bethlehem offered hope that normal life could resume across the region. Jean Charles, visiting from Italy for the first time, described the celebrations as meaningful for all Palestinians, noting the presence of both Christians and Muslims in the square.
For local businesses around Manger Square, the day offered cautious optimism rather than recovery. George Ejha, owner of St Georges Restaurant, said activity had improved compared to recent months but remained far below pre-war levels. Souvenir shop owner Jack Jaqman told BBC, visitor numbers were still insufficient to revive the economy fully, though the celebrations showed Bethlehem’s readiness to welcome pilgrims and tourists again.
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Kerala CM Vijayan flags ‘The Kerala Story 2’ as ‘threat to secularism’
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday expressed concern over the upcoming release of the second part of 'The Kerala Story', claiming that its first installment was made with the "intent to spread hatred against the state and undermine its secular tradition."
Vijayan, in a statement issued by his office, also questioned how "poisonous works produced to spread division and hatred in society" were allowed to be screened, while a film like 'Beef' was barred from a film festival.
He further said that Sangh Parivar centres had taken over and spread the false narrative conveyed by 'The Kerala Story'.
“They are spreading false propaganda by portraying even marriages conducted with mutual consent as examples of communalism and forced religious conversion,” the CM said.
He contended that such forces view Kerala—with no communal riots and a tradition of mutual respect among communities—with hostility, and termed them “enemies of the state” attempting to destroy the peace and tranquility of the region.
“We must collectively reject attempts to portray Kerala, a land of religious harmony that stands at the forefront of sustainable development and is a model in maintaining law and order, as a center of terrorism,” Vijayan said.
“It is the responsibility of each of us to ensure that Kerala’s secular foundation is not undermined by false propaganda and to reject it by upholding the values of secularism and brotherhood,” he added.
Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, the teaser of 'Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond', was released recently.
The first film, 'The Kerala Story', won awards for Best Direction and Best Cinematography at the 71st National Film Awards.
