How the conflict in the Middle East has affected tourism in Belém, West Bank
Fantástico showed this Sunday (24) how the conflict in Gaza changed Christmas in the West Bank city of Belém, considered the cradle of Christianity.
Without Christian pilgrims, tourism one of Bethlehem's main activities also suffers.
The report took place on a street that is full of tourists even outside of the Christmas period. At each of the blue doors are shops selling souvenirs to people visiting Belém. And what you see this year is a completely empty street. Watch the video above.
1 of 2 Once full of tourists, the street in Belém in the West Bank is empty and shops are padlocked. — Photo: Reproduction/Fantástico The street in Belém, West Bank, once full of tourists is empty and shops are padlocked. — Photo: Reproduction/Fantastic
Business in one branch collapsed.
“We haven’t had any tourists since October 7th,” says a trader.
A taxi driver says that before the war he earned around $100 a day at Christmas time more than R$500. This year he made just 50 shekels a little over $10.
The war affected Christmas in Belém
According to Christian tradition, Jesus Christ was born in the city of Palestine, where until last year the Christmas season was a time of celebration and lights, typical food and joy like those celebrated in Brazil.
2 of 2 Installation with a Jesus doll amid rubble, surrounded by angels, in the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem on the West Bank. — Photo: Reproduction/Fantástico Installation with a Jesus doll amid rubble, surrounded by angels in the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem in the West Bank. — Photo: Reproduction/Fantastic
Every year at this time in December, pilgrims come from all over the world to visit the Church of the Nativity and see the Christmas tree that the city puts up. This year it can be said that there is no trace of celebrations.
The history and challenges of Belém
Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the West Bank, an area occupied by Israel since the 1967 war. The city is less than 10 kilometers from another biblical city, Jerusalem, and just over 60 kilometers from the Gaza Strip, where around 30,000 Palestinians live. most of them are Muslims. But Christian Palestinians also live in the city.
Less than 100 years ago, these Christian Arabs made up the vast majority of the city. Today there are only 10,000, according to the Orthodox priest who looks after the Church of the Nativity.
“At Christmas time there were queues and many people from all over the world, thousands, came to Bethlehem and especially to the Church of the Nativity where Jesus was born. Now we don't see anyone. Since October 7th, it has been difficult for people to visit. So Christmas isn't really Christmas. There are no trees, music, bands or any kind of celebration,” says Father Issa Thaljieh.
In the Lutheran church, a new interpretation of the traditional nativity scene stands out: the images of Mary and Joseph watch a baby Jesus wrapped in the Palestinian cloth amid the rubble of the war.
“People are sad about what is happening. We are afraid for the future of our friends and families, because many people here in Bethlehem have relatives in Gaza,” reports Munther Isaac, an Evangelical Lutheran pastor in Bethlehem.
For the full report, watch the video below:
Due to the conflict in the Middle East, there will be no celebrations in Bethlehem in the West Bank