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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Pilgrims throng Bethlehem amid hopes for peace |
| 2005-12-25 |
| Thousands of pilgrims have descended on Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus Christ enjoyed its busiest Christmas of the young century. Municipal officials and shop owners said that the numbers of foreign visitors was higher than at any other stage since the Palestinian uprising broke out five years ago, devastating the tourist industry. All visitors had to enter Bethlehem from Jerusalem via a huge security terminal in a gap in the towering concrete barrier that has cut Bethlehem off from the Holy City around eight kilometres away. Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah called on Israel to tear down its separation barrier as he arrived in the city ahead of Christmas mass at midnight. "We have to remove the walls and put in their place bridges of peace and love," the Patriarch told journalists and the faithful after arriving in Bethlehem at the head of a procession from Jerusalem. He added that the separation barrier between Israel and the West Bank had transformed Bethlehem into an "immense prison". "Those who want to exercise power in the Holy Land must know that they cannot do it through violence but only by winning the hearts of Palestinians and Israelis." While the barrier restricts Palestinians from entering Jerusalem, Israelis are also forbidden from entering Bethlehem as it is under the control of the Palestinian Authority. "It's a strange feeling to know that foreigners can come here but Israelis can't even though they live so close," said Martina Sorenson, from Gothenburg in Sweden, who was hoping to attend the mass. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Geeze... need more coffee (and a preview would have helped). Lets try this again... Of course its all Israel's fault for wanting to defending its innocent women and children from murders, rapists, and thugs. I notice that this guy doesn't actually *live* there. I wonder if he would have the same attitude if his family lived there. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-12-25 09:46 |
| #1 Of corse its all Israels fault for wanting to defending its innocent women and children from murders, rapists, and thugs. I notice that this gues doesn't actually *live* there. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-12-25 09:43 |