MIDDLE EAST: Last minute preparations for Christmas midnight mass in Gaza City and Nazareth

Record ID: 783685

  • Title: MIDDLE EAST: Last minute preparations for Christmas midnight mass in Gaza City and Nazareth
  • Date: 25th December 2009
  • Summary: MARCHING BAND PLAYING WORSHIPPERS LEAVING CHURCH AFTER EVENING PRAYER MAN HOLDING PALESTINIAN FLAG CROSS DECORATED WITH LIGHTS MORE OF MARCHING BAND PLAYING PRIEST WELCOMING GUESTS TO CHRISTMAS DINNER WORSHIPPERS EATING YOUNGSTERS CLAPPING TO CHRISTMAS SONGS NUNS AT FESTIVE DINNER
  • Embargoed: 9th January 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA3J74TQFEZ3A64JAIAUQEVU6QF
  • Story Text: Hundreds of Christian worshippers on Thursday (December 24) crowded in front of the Church of Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, trying to secure seats at the Christmas Midnight Mass in what is considered the birth place of Jesus.
    "It's wonderful, to walk in the steps of Jesus and to be where he lived, and to have that as a personal faith for us," an excited tourists from the US told Reuters television, as he waited to enter the church.
    Throughout the evening, street celebrations continued in the town, including a rock concert that has attracted many youngsters and local residents.
    "Palestine is a city of peace, it's people want liberty. Using this image we want to tell the entire world that we are not terrorists as other countries are accusing us. We people love peace and liberty. This is message that we are sending through our costumes. We are not terrorists, we Palestinians call for the liberty of our land," said a young Bethlehem resident, wearing a Santa costume.
    At midnight, Jerusalem's Latin Patriarch Fuad Twal will lead the annual Christmas mass, which will also be attended by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
    Preparations for Midnight Mass continued also in Nazareth, where Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived according to Christian tradition. Streets were decorated around the Church of Annunciation, where worshippers believe Mary was told by Angel Gabriel that she will give birth to the son of God.
    In the mostly Muslim Gaza Strip, tens of Christians on Thursday (December 24) arrived at the only church for Christmas prayers, and a festive dinner.
    The Christian community in Gaza numbers approximately 3,000 members, of which only 300 were allowed by Israel to spend the holiday in the West Bank, as others stayed in the strip to celebrate the holiday.
    Most of the Christians who left Gaza will headed to the West Bank to attend Christmas festivities with family members and friends, but many headed to Bethlehem.
    The cramped Mediterranean enclave, which was hammered by an Israeli military offensive a year ago, is ruled by the Islamist Hamas group. Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005 and after driving out the mainstream Fatah movement in 2007, Hamas took full power.
    Hamas does not recognise Israel's right to exist and opposes the Fatah strategy pursued by President Mahmoud Abbas of seeking to negotiate a permanent peace deal.
    A year ago, Israel launched an offensive against Hamas in Gaza with the declared aim of halting cross-border rocket fire into its cities by Palestinian militants.
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