Jerusalem patriarch slams Israeli occupation in Christmas mass

Jerusalem patriarch slams Israeli occupation in Christmas mass

AFP
Date: 12-24-04

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AFP) - Muslims and Christians united in the hope that the festive season will herald a new dawn after four years of violence, attending midnight mass in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

Celebrating the mass at the Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, the patriarch of Jerusalem called for an end to the walls and violence which he said had turned Palestinian towns into prisons.

"Our situation is a situation of conflict and of violence, of insecurity and of fear, of military occupation, of the separation barrier, of prison towns, of humiliations," Michel Sabbah told a congregation of at least 3,000.

They included PLO chairman Mahmud Abbas, who is tipped to replace late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

"We pray that all walls fall down, those around Bethlehem and the other Palestinian towns, and the walls of hatred in our hearts," Sabbah said.

"We say that it has lasted too long. It is time to conquer the violence in the souls and in the hearts of individuals, of leaders."

Sabbah welcomed in particular the attendance of Abbas, and Rawhi Fattuh, the interim president of the Palestinian Authority, the first time in four years that the Palestinian leadership had been allowed by Israel to attend.

Before his death last month Yasser Arafat was a regular guest at midnight mass until he was confined to his Ramallah offices in December 2001.

"You wanted to continue in the tradition started by president Arafat, recently departed for eternity, and to be present with us on this holy night," Sabbah said.

Abbas is the firm favourite to succeed Arafat as president of the Palestinian Authority in elections to be held on January 9.

Earlier Friday, Muslims and Christians thronged the streets of Bethlehem, whose fledgling tourist industry has been crippled by travel restrictions and the West Bank barrier, deemed essential by Israel for its security after four years of the Palestinian intifada.

Christmas brought momentary relief to those suffering from the tourist dearth. Muslims and Christians flocked from nearby villages joining pilgrims from afar to celebrate the birth of Jesus in his hometown.

The Church of the Nativity, where Christian tradition says the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus more than 2,000 years ago, was overflowing with a melting-pot of young and old, Muslim and Christian.

Nuns and Franciscan friars shared the stone floor of the fourth-century shrine with tourists from the United States, diplomatic staff, aid workers, and local Palestinians.

Many were unable to gain entrance as tickets to the event were sold out and instead they crammed outside the ancient cloisters and archways in the off-chance they could hear or gain access.

Opposite the church, on the other side of Manger Square, flashing letters on the town hall spelt out in green neon "Merry Christmas" next to a large poster of a smiling and waving Arafat.

While Palestinians still mourn the death of their beloved patriarch, some here said that his passing had prompted a change of leadership that could bring a brighter future.

"People are hoping for the best, you can see it in their eyes. You can feel the spirit," Joseph, 38, told AFP outside his falafel shop.

"It's time for us to have a normal life like everybody else and we pray to God that he will make it easier for us.

"The Israeli troops have to remove all these barriers and sanctions and make it easier for people to come here and enjoy the festivities and meet up with their friends and their families," he said.

The Israeli authorities eased travel restrictions over the Christmas period for those keen to visit Bethlehem but a notable exception did not make it into the congregation as he had hoped.

Nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu, complete with Santa hat, was arrested as he headed to the mass Friday in blatant breach of the terms imposed on him by Israel after his release from jail.

Vanunu, 50, converted to Christianity during 18 years' imprisonment for leaking details of Israel's secret nuclear arsenal to a British weekly newspaper.

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