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Bethlehem is often at its busiest at Christmas however this 12 months battle has scared away vacationers and pilgrims from the within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution, leaving motels, eating places and memento retailers abandoned.
With world headlines dominated since Oct. 7 by information of the Hamas assaults in southern Israel, adopted by Israel’s navy assault on Gaza and an increase in violence within the West Financial institution, enterprise house owners in Bethlehem mentioned nobody was coming.
“We now have no company. Not one,” mentioned Joey Canavati, proprietor of the Alexander Lodge, whose household has lived and labored in Bethlehem for 4 generations.
“That is the worst Christmas ever. Bethlehem is shut down for Christmas. No Christmas tree, no pleasure, no Christmas spirit,” he mentioned.
Positioned simply south of Jerusalem, Bethlehem is closely reliant for revenue and jobs on guests from everywhere in the world who come to see the Church of the Nativity, believed by Christians to face on the location the place Jesus was born.
Canavati mentioned that earlier than Oct. 7, his lodge was absolutely booked for Christmas, to the purpose that he was searching for rooms elsewhere within the city to assist out folks he couldn’t slot in.
Because the battle began, everybody cancelled, together with bookings for subsequent 12 months. “All we get on the e-mail is cancellation after cancellation after cancellation,” mentioned Canavati.
He took Reuters TV on a tour of the lodge, opening doorways to empty rooms and displaying the silent eating room.
“We had at the very least 120 folks having dinner right here each night time and it was packed. The noise, the folks. Empty. No Christmas breakfast, no Christmas dinner, no Christmas buffet,” he mentioned.
SURGE IN ATTACKS
Because the 1967 battle between Israel and neighbouring Arab nations, Israel has occupied the West Financial institution, which Palestinians need because the core of a future impartial state.
Israel has constructed Jewish settlements, deemed unlawful by most nations, throughout the territory. Israel disputes this, citing historic and biblical ties to the land. A number of of its ministers stay in settlements and favour their enlargement.
Since Oct. 7, the West Financial institution has skilled an increase in assaults by Jewish settlers on Palestinians, which have been already at a 15-year excessive this 12 months earlier than the Hamas assault.
Bethlehem’s Manger Sq., a big paved area in entrance of the Church of the Nativity that normally serves as a focus for Christmas celebrations, was quiet and nearly empty, as have been close by streets the place most memento retailers have been shuttered.
Rony Tabash, who sells crucifixes, statuettes of the Virgin Mary and different non secular trinkets in his household’s retailer, was tidying cabinets and merchandise to cross the time.
“We’re nearly two months with none pilgrim, any vacationer,” he mentioned, including that he was conserving the shop open as a solution to stave off hopelessness.
“We need to really feel that all the things will probably be again, prefer to regular life,” he mentioned.
Ala’a Salameh, proprietor of falafel restaurant Afteem, mentioned his enterprise was working at 10% or 15% of capability, catering for native Palestinian households somewhat than the same old inflow of international guests.
He mentioned he was conserving the restaurant open as a result of his employees wanted the work.
“I’ve staff, so from the place I can provide them cash to take and to feed their households, their children?” he mentioned.
“We’re praying for peace. For peace. You already know, Bethlehem is town the place peace was born, so it needs to be the messenger for peace to be unfold everywhere in the world.”