MIDLE EAST: TOURISTS AND PILGRIMS ARRIVE IN BETHLEHEM ON CHRISTMAS MORNING (DECEMBER 24)
Record ID:
648650
MIDLE EAST: TOURISTS AND PILGRIMS ARRIVE IN BETHLEHEM ON CHRISTMAS MORNING (DECEMBER 24)
- Title: MIDLE EAST: TOURISTS AND PILGRIMS ARRIVE IN BETHLEHEM ON CHRISTMAS MORNING (DECEMBER 24)
- Date: 24th December 2004
- Summary: GILO CHECKPOINT, WEST BANK (DECEMBER 24, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. CU: SIGN READING HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR'/ WS: CHECKPOINT WARNING SIGN. 0.10 2. CU: SIGN READING 'A CALL TO ALL PEOPLE OF FAITH: VISIT THE HOLYLAND NOW!' 0.15 3. WS/PULL IN: SOLDIERS CHECKING CAR. 0.27 4. TRACK: TOURIST BUS ARRIVING AT CHECKPOINT. 0.46 5. CU/PULL OUT: SOLDIERS CHECKING BUS. 0.58 6. TRACK: BUS LEAVING FOR BETHLEHEM. 1.09 BETHLEHEM. WEST BANK (DECEMBER 24, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 7. VARIOUSGV: OF SUNRISE OVER BETHLEHEM. (2 SHOTS) 1.27 8. VARIOUS: OF POLICEMEN AND BARRICADES IN MANGER SQUARE OUTSIDE NATIVITY CHURCH. (7 SHOTS) 2.17 9. VARIOUS: OF BAND PRACTISING FOR CHRISTMAS PROCESSION. (6 SHOTS) 3.01 RACHEL'S TOMB, BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK (DECEMBER 24, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 10. WS/CU: OF MEN SWEEPING ROAD. (2 SHOTS) 3.14 11. MV/CU: OF ISRAELI SOLDIERS PATROLLING SITE. (2 SHOTS) 3.26 12. CU: ELDERLY PALESTINIANS ARRIVING AT RACHEL'S TOMB. 3.35 13. WS: BUS CROSSING CHECKPOINT. 3.46 14. MV: TOURISTS ARRIVING. 3.55 15. WS/CU: OF POLICEMEN SECURING RACHEL'S TOMB. (2 SHOTS) 4.08 16. WS: OF CHECKPOINT. 4.13 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 8th January 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: JERUSALEM/ BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK
- City:
- Country: West Bank West Bank Israel MIDDLE EAST
- Reuters ID: LVACMBZO443Y0T2FVN1B928CXUFS
- Story Text: Pilgrims began flowing to Bethlehem, the biblical
town of Jesus' birth, on Christmas morning (December 24).
Pilgrims began flowing to Bethlehem on Christmas
morning (December 24)
In Manger Square, outside the Church of Nativity,
dozens of policemen displayed barricades to maintain order
over the festive holidays.
After almost a year free of bloodshed and Israeli army
raids, the West Bank town of Bethlehem is experiencing a
modest revival of Christmas cheer and hotel bookings by
foreign pilgrims.
Yet much of its lifeblood tourist trade remains shut
down and residents blame Israeli encirclement -- Jewish
settlements on occupied land around Bethlehem and the wall
that is rising between and now cuts into part of the town.
In a pre-Christmas message, the heads of churches in
the Holy Land accused the Israeli barrier of turning
Bethlehem into a "big prison".
Church officials also said the barrier and years of
conflict were spurring emigration of minority Christians.
According to them one of the main obstacles is the
"incredible structure at the entrance to the City". They
were referring to a series of towering Israeli concrete
blocks to shield Jewish visitors from Jerusalem to Rachel's
Tomb, where Jews believe the biblical matriarch is buried.
The fortifications around the tomb have severed the
main Christian pilgrimage route into central Bethlehem,
turning the once thriving commercial strip into a virtual ghost town.
About 10 percent of Bethlehem's Christians have
emigrated to escape violence and economic meltdown since a
Palestinian revolt waged by mainly Muslim militants began
in 2000, officials say.
Bethlehem is the only Palestinian town with a large Christian
minority -- some 35 percent, or 21,000 people.
A U.N. humanitarian agency report issued earlier this
week said Bethlehem was surrounded by 78 obstacles
including army checkpoints, dirt mounds and the barrier.
Violence has abated markedly in the West Bank and
Israel has pledged to make it easier for pilgrims to visit
Bethlehem, including Christian Palestinians from elsewhere
in the West Bank and Christian Arabs in Israel.
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