WEST BANK: Christian Palestinians and foreign pilgrims march with lit candles to condemn Israeli barrier.

Record ID: 565206

  • Title: WEST BANK: Christian Palestinians and foreign pilgrims march with lit candles to condemn Israeli barrier.
  • Date: 27th December 2005
  • Summary: BACK VIEW OF CANDLE PROCESSION
  • Embargoed: 11th January 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVACDSODFH354BXPVAS1VN84K985
  • Story Text: Dozens of Christian Palestinians and pilgrims from around the world marched with lit candles in the West Bank town of Beit Sahour on Sunday (December 25), in protest against the Israeli barrier.
    The candle-light procession in Beit Shaour, a Palestinian town bordering the biblical city of Bethlehem, is an annual event taking place each year on December 25.
    This year's procession was dedicated to the Palestinian struggle against the wall Israel is building across the West Bank to separate itself from Palestinian territories.
    Salah Tamari, governor of Bethlehem who joined the candle light procession despite the rainy weather, told Reuters Television that he hopes that by Christmas next year, the barrier will be dismantled.
    "I've been taking part in this activity for a number of years. It's very important as it's a reminder to world of the root issue -- the issue of Palestinian land that continues to be occupied. It also unites us as Palestinians and makes us strong when we take this path. It's an important path and a correct one towards freedom. Freedom for us means the freedom of our land, not sliced-up and the freedom of humanity, not sliced-up," he added.
    Among the protesters were children who carried torches and marched in silent next to their parents.
    Sami Awad, Director of Holy Land Trust in Bethlehem, the group organising the march, told Reuters that the procession is first and foremost a religious celebration of the birth of Jesus.
    "Well this is a strong message from the people of the Bethlehem to the world that we as a people are going to celebrate Christmas. This is the town where Jesus was born and we are very proud to be the city where christ was born. But at the same time this protest is a demonstration against the continued land confiscation and the building of the Apartheid wall that is surrounding Bethlehem. So while we celebrate Christmas we want the world to know that there is suffering happening here and we want the world to stand in solidarity with us," he added.
    Bethlehem experienced a surge in holiday spirit as hundreds of pilgrims from around the world flocked to the birth town of Jesus for Christmas Eve celebrations.
    But for the first time, pilgrims taking the road from Jerusalem have to pass through an iron gateway in an eight metre (26 foot) high concrete wall since Israeli completed a section of its West Bank barrier outside Bethlehem.
    Israel erected its internationally condemned barrier inside the West Bank with the avowed aim of stopping Palestinian suicide bombers. Palestinians say that the barrier is a land grab that denies them a viable state.
    The World Court has branded the barrier illegal because it loops into occupied land.
    Israel's army has eased restrictions on visitors to allow visits by foreign Christians as well as Palestinian Christians living alongside the Muslim majority.
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