We’re now just days away from Christmas, a special time for everyone in some way but very special time for Christians.
But not in the town of Bethlehem, a town that historically has been a town at the center of the Christmas celebration and what it’s all about. You see Bethlehem is very different this year.
The town is located in the Israeli controlled West Bank and while many Palestinians live there, many Christians have come to Bethlehem to visit and there are usually Christmas festivities that also include the Palestinian Christians who live there.
But for weeks now, the news about Bethlehem has been about the fact that Christmas is not being celebrated the way it usually is there.
As one recent news report put it, “Many Palestinians are too distressed by the war in Gaza to hold Christmas celebrations.”
And there are not many visitors coming to Bethlehem.
Since the October 7th attack by Hamas on Israel and as the war goes on with many hostages still being held in Gaza, there are new Israeli security checkpoints. And that has made travelling in and out of Bethlehem far more difficult even if someone wants to go there this Christmas.
So instead of a festive feeling in Bethlehem this year there is a feeling of sadness.
We can only hope and pray that the good news of Christmas will help overcome the evil that has changed it in Bethlehem this year.
(Photo Getty Images)