Bethlehem, December 24, 2025 (WAFA) – Waad al-Kar
Bethlehem looked different this morning; the city, exhausted by war and siege, and drained by years of stagnation and loss, regained some of its lost vitality .
The scout groups set off in an official parade, marching steadily from Al-Najma Street towards Manger Square, preceded by scout chants and flags, in a scene that brought back memories of images that had been absent for two consecutive years due to the war .
The city’s streets and squares were adorned, and lights once again reflected on its ancient stones, as if Bethlehem were trying to say that it is capable of rising again despite all that it has endured. After lean years during which tourism, the main artery that sustains the city and its inhabitants, ceased, an atmosphere of joy returned to fill Manger Square, and life returned to the place that used to be the focus of the world’s attention on this day every year .
Citizens from within and outside the city flocked to enjoy the scout parades, their faces etched with longing. This atmosphere, which people had been deprived of for two years, was not just a fleeting celebration, but a revival of a part of their collective memory, a social phenomenon that the residents had long missed .
Umm Issa, a woman in her fifties who came from Nazareth, says that she was keen to reach the birthplace of Jesus Christ to experience the Christmas atmosphere after a harsh interruption, stressing that Bethlehem represents a special spiritual meaning for her, and that returning to it at this time carries a feeling of joy and gratitude together .
As for Miriam, a woman in her thirties who came with her children, she said she wanted her children to experience the Christmas atmosphere that had been absent from them in recent years, expressing her hope that the new year would bring goodness and joy to Bethlehem in particular, and to Palestine in general. She added that these moments, despite their simplicity, give people the energy to continue and restore to them a sense of normalcy that they have long missed .
Amidst this atmosphere, and between the sounds of scout music and children’s laughter, the city seems to be trying to balance joy and sorrow, celebration and the recent memory of war. Bethlehem, rising today like a phoenix from the ashes, still bears the scars of difficult years that impacted its economy and the lives of thousands of families whose livelihoods were tied to the tourism sector .
A few meters away from Manger Square, in one of the alleys of the Old City, this general scene takes on a more human and profound dimension. There, Anas Abayat, a man in his thirties, stands behind a small table, continuing to fry the Palestinian sweet known as “Halabi,” dipping it in hot syrup, observing the movement of passersby and visitors .
Before the war, Anas worked within the 1948 territories, supporting his family with a steady income. However, the outbreak of war turned his life upside down, suddenly leaving him unemployed. His suffering was compounded by the presence of a disabled child in his family, requiring monthly medication and treatment costing over $300, an amount he could no longer afford given the difficult economic circumstances and the Ministry of Health’s current inability to provide these medications .
Faced with this harsh reality, Anas decided not to wait and not to give up. He learned to make “Halabi” sweets on his own, without a teacher or prior experience. He conducted many experiments, modified the ingredients, and made unsuccessful attempts until he arrived at a high-quality recipe based on flour, semolina, and water, which is fried over a fire and then dipped in syrup .
Anas says that this sweets business was not just a small project, but an attempt to survive, to preserve his dignity and support his family with whatever he could.
He adds that he preferred to light a candle rather than curse the darkness, and to have a modest income rather than nothing .
He expresses his hope that Bethlehem will return to its former glory, that tourism will return, and that workers will return to their jobs within the 1948 territories. He also directs a message to the youth not to give in to the circumstances, and to create any opportunity for work, no matter how simple, stressing that work is worship, and that trying in itself is a form of steadfastness .
Anas’s story is not an isolated case, but rather part of a broader scene that the city is experiencing.
While the festive atmosphere returns to Manger Square, Bethlehem continues to suffer from a siege, closures, and checkpoints that have directly affected the movement of citizens, the local economy, and the tourism sector, which is a fundamental pillar of the lives of its residents .
In this context, Bethlehem Mayor Maher Qanawati said that this year’s Christmas message originates from the birthplace of Jesus Christ and carries a profound spiritual and humanitarian meaning, citing the verse: “Arise, shine, for your light has come.” He emphasized that Bethlehem, despite the harsh circumstances it has endured, is capable of rising again, and that the return of the Christmas spirit sends a message of hope to the world that this city remains a haven of peace and committed to its humanitarian mission .
Qanawati explained that the municipality has been working during the past period to revive the tourism sector through initiatives aimed at restoring the confidence of visitors and stimulating the local economy, stressing that the return of celebrations, even if it came in exceptional circumstances, represents a great morale boost for the people of the city and a message of resilience in the face of all attempts at isolation and marginalization .
For his part, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Hani Al-Hayek said: There is cautious optimism about the gradual return of the tourism sector, especially with the start of foreign tourist groups arriving in the city of Bethlehem, although hotel occupancy rates are still low and do not generate significant profits .
He pointed out that the resumption of Christmas celebrations will positively reflect on Bethlehem’s image in the eyes of the world, as a city capable of welcoming its visitors and carrying a message of peace despite all the challenges.
He pointed out that the ministry pays special attention to encouraging domestic tourism, through awareness campaigns and tours within the governorate’s cities and towns, which have contributed to bringing religious and historical sites back into focus and stimulating the local market, albeit in a limited way, while stressing that this improvement is still fragile in light of the existing political and security situation .
For his part, Bethlehem Governor Muhammad Abu Aliya pointed out that the governorate is subjected to continuous targeting by the occupation and settlers, through raids, incursions, arrests, preventing citizens from accessing their agricultural lands, imposing closures and iron gates, in addition to repeated attacks, which exacerbates the economic and humanitarian conditions and makes any recovery slow and full of challenges .
On the security front, the Director General of Police in Bethlehem Governorate confirmed the completion of preparations to secure Christmas celebrations, through a comprehensive security and traffic plan aimed at ensuring the safety of citizens and visitors, and facilitating movement during official and popular events, reflecting the image of an organized and safe city in this exceptional season .
Between Manger Square, overflowing with joy, and the narrow alleyways of the Old City where Anas works quietly, the image of Bethlehem today is embodied: a city striving to regain its balance, to transform every moment of joy into a space for hope, and every individual initiative into a step towards life. This year, Christmas is not merely a religious celebration, but an expression of the city’s and its people’s will to rise again, and of their belief that light, however faint, can find its way through the darkness .
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E.R.
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