Last year, only about 2,500 foreign visitors came on Christmas, but, he's counting on the usual bus loads of Christians from nearby Palestinian towns to boost turnout.Before the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising in 2000, Bethlehem drew more than 90,000 pilgrims a month. With just two weeks to Christmas, Bethlehem is only sparsely decorated. A few neon stars are nailed to storefronts on the main streets. The only decoration on the Lutheran Christmas Church in a busy market area is spray-painted graffiti below the pointed steeple that reads 'Islamic Jihad'.
Perhaps that's why the town isn't so decorated?
In Manger Square, next to the Church of the Nativity, built over Jesus' traditional birthplace, only two of six souvenir shops and a small cafe were open on a recent afternoon. Many other nearby shops were closed as well. A few tourists who sat outside a cafe, braving the dreary weather, were thronged by peddlers trying to sell
Gee, that's too bad. Gosh. Darn. Golly.
The economic squeeze has driven away growing numbers of Christians, already a minority of 35 percent in this town of 30,000.
Sucks to be a dhimmi, huh?
"I appreciate it, because Bethlehem is the symbol of peace," another Palestinian said.
The acting finance minister, Samir Abu Eisha of Hamas, said he'll write dlrs 50,000 check
The Widows Ammunition Fund, however, was fully funded.
"We don't fund any Islamic celebrations, but we want to fund this Christian festival, which is a special part of Bethlehem," said Abu Eisha. "As a Palestinian government, we hope our Christian brothers have a happy celebration. They are an integral part of Palestinian society."
"As long as they remember their place."