Almost 7 people out of work in the Bethlehem tourism sector

This year in Bethlehem will be a quiet and subdued Christmas, with nearly 7.000 people involved in the tourism sector out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bethlehem Mayor Anton Salman said.

Virtually no pilgrims or tourists have visited Bethlehem since the outbreak began in March, when the first cases of COVID-19 in the West Bank were diagnosed in a group of Greek pilgrims.

In a video conference on December 2, Salman told reporters that some 800 Bethlehem families were left without income as 67 hotels, 230 souvenir shops, 127 restaurants and 250 craft workshops were forced to close in an economically dependent city. tourism.

Salman said that although there is a responsibility to keep Christmas alive in Bethlehem, given the current situation, the holiday season will not be normal. Religious celebrations will follow the traditions of the Status Quo, but some protocols will need to be adapted to the reality of COVID-19, he said. Meetings to finalize the procedures will be held between churches and the municipality by December 14, he said.

Preparation of the city's Christmas tree in Manger Square has already begun, but the square normally bustling with visitors at this time of year was nearly empty in early December, with only a few local visitors stopping by to take selfies with the tree.

This year there was no need to set up the large festive stage next to the tree: there will be no musical performances by local and international choirs during the holiday season.

A nighttime curfew imposed in Palestinian cities following a spike in COVID-19 cases keeps people indoors between 19pm and 00am and only a shortened version of the tree lighting ceremony will take place - usually a joyful one. start of the holiday season - December 6, Salman said.

“There will be only 12 people present, with a very limited time. They will go up into the square and the priests will bless the tree, ”he said.

Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the new Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, told the Catholic News Service that the patriarchate is engaged in discussions with the Palestinian and Israeli authorities to determine how traditional religious Christmas celebrations will be held. But with the situation changing every day and Israelis and Palestinians, each with their own different needs, nothing has been finalized yet, he added.

“We will do everything as usual but, of course, with fewer people,” said Pizzaballa. "Things change every day, so it's hard to say now what's going to happen on December 25th."

He said he would like parishioners to be able to attend Christmas Mass alongside local community representatives following the necessary COVID-19 regulations