Christian Christmas celebration in Bethlehem not deterred by nearby violence

'We're in Bethlehem celebrating Christmas, celebrating the birthday of our lord Jesus Christ. This is the birthplace of the king of peace so what we want is peace.'

Christians gathered in the city of Christ's birth for Christmas Eve celebrations this year, where an outburst of Israeli-Palestinian violence took place.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Before the celebrations got started, Israeli authorities announced three Palestinians involved in attacks against Israelis had been killed. A Palestinian hospital official said another Palestinian was killed while fighting Israeli troops.

Unfortunately, Bethlehem has been rife with Israeli-Palestinian violence in the past three months. 

 Since mid=September, Palestines have claimed the lives of twenty Israelis, while Israel forces have killed 124 Palestinians, eighty-five of which are believed to be attackers. The others were killed in clashes with Israeli police.

Despite the violence, many of the annual celebrations in Bethlehem's Manger Square continued, but some were canceled or altered.

Rula Maayah, the Palestinian Tourism Minister, said, "We're in Bethlehem celebrating Christmas, celebrating the birthday of our lord Jesus Christ. This is the birthplace of the king of peace so what we want is peace."

Miral Siriani, a 35-year-old publicist from Jerusalem, said she was happy the city can breathe and celebrate Christ's birth following months of tension and attacks.

"I feel safe in Bethlehem," she admitted.

One person, only identified as "Nustas," dressed as Santa Claus and rang a Christmas bell before delivering packages from a toy store, said he hoped the celebrations would replace the gloom that had been hanging over the city.

"The situation is what it is," he said, "a war and intifada. But God willing, we'll overcome it and celebrate."

Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, wished "peace and love" for all as he led a procession from his Jerusalem headquarters into Bethlehem. 

Tonight Twal is expected to lead worshipers in a Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity, which was build above the place Christ was born.

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