Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bethlehem (Agenzia Fides) - As Christmas draws near the town of Bethlehem is living one of the ‘most difficult periods in its history’, said the mayor Dr Victor Batarseh in his customary Christmas Message. The ‘wall of separation built by Israel has created many problems preventing contact with Jerusalem and other areas, isolating workers and practically confiscating 280 hectares of arable land, turning the town into a prison’, the mayor complains.
The mayor says usually Bethlehem is crowded at this time but this year the number of pilgrims and visitors is low due to Israel’s security measures, including check-points on the Bethlehem road. “This morning all seems to be calm in the shadow of the wall” he says.
“Palestinian farmers - Dr Batarseh continues - cannot reach the market to sell their produce. Unemployment in Bethlehem has reached the unsustainable level of 65%. Because of the financial crisis the municipality for three months has been unable to pay its employees.
The number of Christians who decide to emigrate is rising because of difficult living conditions. Once most of the people in Bethlehem were Christians, now Muslims are the majority, and all suffer without distinction. “We pray the Star may once again shine on Bethlehem”, the mayor concludes.
An appeal to help ‘save Bethlehem’ has been launched also by the Franciscan Custodians of the Holy Land who say in 1965 Christians were 65% of the population, today they are less than 12%. In recent years 3,000 Christians have moved away from the town in search of a better future. The friars are trying to persuade people to stay but people continue to emigrate because of the economic and social difficulties. Christians the world over are involved in initiatives of solidarity to help Bethlehem’s Christians remain in the Holy Land. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 13/12/2006 righe 27 parole 271)
