Bethlehem marks Christmas celebrations

December 26, 2012: Thousands of Palestinians and tourists flocked to the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Tuesday to mark Christmas at the site where Jesus Christ was born. This year's celebration carried special significance for many Palestinians, coming after 12 months in which their status on the world stage has been significantly upgraded.

In Bethlehem, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Jerusalem voiced his support for a Palestinian state. Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal said this Christmas would be a celebration of "the birth of Christ our lord and the birth of the state of Palestine". "The path [to statehood] remains long, and will require a united effort," he said.

The patriarch, who was born in Jordan, led a symbolic procession from Jerusalem's Old City to the West Bank city, passing through the separation barrier and checkpoint built by the Israelis. He was met at the church in Manger Square by thousands of tourists, pilgrims and clergy. The patriarch later held the Mass at the Church of Nativity.

"From this holy place, I invite politicians and men of good will to work with determination for peace and reconciliation that encompasses Palestine and Israel in the midst of all the sufferings in the Middle East," he said.

And referring to last month's hostilities between Israel and Gaza militants, the patriarch said his prayers included "all Arab and Jewish families that have been touched by the conflict". Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas was present at the Mass.

In November, the United Nations upgraded the status of the Palestinians to that of a "non-member observer state". Israel - strongly backed by the US - opposed the move, describing it as a Palestinian ploy to bypass stalled peace negotiations.

The Church of Nativity is located in an area of the West Bank governed by the Palestinian Authority.
In June, the church was formally named a Unesco World Heritage Site - the first to be nominated by the Palestinians, who were made full members of Unesco earlier this year.