Bethlehem lit up its Christmas tree at the Church of the Nativity on Saturday, celebrating the season, while neighboring Gaza remains without public festivities of the new year due to the ongoing Israeli genocide in the besieged enclave.
Representing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of Christian Affairs, Ramzi Khoury, on Saturday evening, lit the Christmas tree organized by the Bethlehem Municipality. It marks the start of the glorious Christmas activities.
In his speech, Khoury conveyed the greetings and congratulations of President Mahmoud Abbas to the Palestinian people, and the people of Bethlehem in particular, on the occasion of Christmas, stressing that Bethlehem, the city of Christmas, renews once again the message of hope and peace from which it was launched to the world more than two thousand years ago.
He said that the birth of Jesus Christ is a permanent birth of hope amidst pain, and a message that light is always able to conquer darkness no matter how severe the hardships are, stressing that the Palestinian people, despite the wounds, siege and aggression, still carry the message of just peace, preserve their national dignity, and adhere to their right to freedom and independence.
In the context of his talk about the current situation, Khoury stressed that lighting the Christmas tree this year coincides with the hearts of the Palestinians with their families in the Gaza Strip, and with the souls of the martyrs, children, women and the elderly, in light of the ongoing aggression on Gaza, the ongoing violations in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and attempts to obliterate national identity.
He pointed out that lighting the tree in Bethlehem is not just a celebration, but a declaration of the unity of our people, and of the convergence of churches, institutions and all components of our society on one message.
“Here, the voices of churches blend with those of mosques, embracing prayers for one nation striving for freedom and independence,” he said.
Khoury stressed that the Supreme Presidential Committee for Church Affairs continues its work to protect the authentic Christian presence in Palestine, and to preserve the spiritual and national heritage that was launched from Bethlehem to the world, as it is an integral part of the Palestinian identity and its civilizational message.
He continued: “We light our tree in prayer for Gaza, in hope for the children of Palestine, and in loyalty to our martyrs, our families, and our wounded, and we light it out of the belief that the coming birth will be the birth of true peace that guarantees our people their rights, freedom, and an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital”.
Khoury thanked the Bethlehem Municipality, churches, scouting and youth institutions, security and police forces, and everyone who contributed to the success of this event. He also appreciated the role of the media in conveying Bethlehem’s message to the world, stressing that Palestine will continue to shine despite all attempts at extinguishing the situation.
Bethlehem Mayor Maher Kanawati stressed in his speech that the city of birth, from which the message of peace was launched more than two thousand years ago, still carries its original message despite the wounds, stressing that lighting the tree this year represents hope and determination, and that it is a message that Bethlehem will remain a beacon of love and human dignity.
He said: “We are here to stay, to preserve this land, for it has something worth living for, and from it we derive our right to survive. Palestine is the land of messages and our deep roots in history, and it will only happen through our steadfastness and adherence to it. Wherever there is life, freedom and hope, there will be Palestine, and its story is not symbolic but an act lived by the ancestors and completed by us, the children.
The tree lighting ceremony began with the entry of the official procession, and then the announcement of the start of the events, while the Palestinian Scouts group performed national pieces, followed by a minute of silence for the souls of the martyrs of Palestine, in a scene that combined the symbolism of the birth of light with the message of steadfastness embodied by the Palestinian people despite the challenges.
The tree lighting activities include messages of congratulations and solidarity from international figures and institutions that are partners of Bethlehem in cultural and development projects, affirming their support for the city during the holiday season, and their pride in the spiritual status it holds before the world.
The “From the Shadows of War… Peace is Born” choir presented an artistic show with humanitarian content that expresses the aspirations of the Palestinian people towards a more just and peaceful future, stressing the role of art and culture in confronting pain with light.
