Gloomy Christmas in Bethlehem in Wake of Trump’s Declaration
Christian worshiper lights candles at the Church of the Nativity, built atop the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, on Christmas Eve, in the West Bank City of Bethlehem, Dec. 24, 2017.
BETHLEHEM —
Christians around the world are celebrating Christmas. But in the Holy Land, Israeli-Palestinian tensions have put a damper on festivities.
Bells at the Church of the Nativity summoned the faithful to celebrate Christmas at the traditional birthplace of Jesus in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. But turnout was sparse in the wake of three weeks of Palestinian protests against U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
WATCH: Trump's Declaration Overshadows Christmas in Bethlehem
Palestinian Michael Kumsiyeh sat in his empty souvenir shop in Manger Square and put the blame squarely on Trump.
“He makes a problem. He doesn’t make any solution. He doesn’t find any solution for the problem,” said Kumsiyeh.
Café owner Hader Kanaan said customers are few and far between.
“This Christmas this year is very sad. No celebration. Nobody happy. Bad situation. Everything [is] bad,” he said.
Palestinians dressed as Santa Claus confront Israeli border police during a protest in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Dec. 23, 2017.
Some tourists cancelled their trips to Bethlehem, but others were not deterred.
“I wasn’t afraid to come. I’m not afraid being here at all. I’m pleased to see the security,” said Gail Perkins, who came from Los Angeles in the United States.
She said there no better place to be on Christmas than Bethlehem.
“It kind of makes the biblical stories that I’ve known all my life come alive because I can see the countryside, hear the language and smell the food,” she said.
Many pilgrims waited a lifetime to visit Bethlehem, but the Palestinians who live here are still waiting for better times.
IN PICTURES: Christmas Celebrations Around the World
Christmas Celebrations Around the World
1/14Pope Francis waves to faithful during the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for ' to the city and to the world') Christmas' day blessing from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Dec. 25, 2017.
2/14Clergymen attend a Christmas midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Dec. 25, 2017.
3/14Belarusian children perform in a Catholic church in the town of Dyatlovo, Belarus, Dec. 25, 2017.
4/14Pakistani police stand guard at a church during the Christmas Day mass in Lahore, Dec. 25, 2017.
5/14Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, center, with Prince Philip, right, leave following the traditional Christmas Day church service, at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Dec. 25, 2017.
6/14An Indian girl prays during the midnight Christmas Mass at Saint Joseph's Cathedral in Lucknow, India, Dec. 25, 2017.
7/14President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump speak on the phone with children as they track Santa Claus' movements with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Santa Tracker on Christmas Eve at the president's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Dec. 24, 2017.
8/14Iraqi Christians light candles after a Christmas Eve Mass in St. Joseph's Church in Baghdad, Dec. 24, 2017.
9/14A man dressed as Santa Claus gives a present to a child at a shopping mall in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, Dec. 25, 2017.
10/14A worshiper prays inside the Church of the Nativity, built atop the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, on Christmas Eve, in the West Bank City of Bethlehem, Dec. 24, 2017.
11/14People attend Christmas Eve Mass at a church in Surabaya, Indonesia, Dec. 24, 2017 in this photo taken by Antara Foto.
12/14A man decorates a 210 feet-long (64 meters) cake during Christmas celebrations at a consumer fair in Chandigarh, India, Dec. 25, 2017.
13/14Members of the Berliner Seehunde (Berlin seals) swimming club take a bath at the lake Oranke during their traditional Christmas swim in Berlin, Germany, Dec. 25, 2017.
14/14Egyptians look at Santa Claus toys in a shop as the capital is on high security alert on the Christmas eve in Cairo, Dec. 24, 2017.
