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Bethlehem’s Christmas spirit is dimmed again as tourists avoid the city amid the Gaza conflict. Photo: AP
For a second year running, there is no Christmas cheer in Bethlehem. Tourists are shunning the city, and many residents are seeking a way out as the war in Gaza grinds on.
Bethlehem’s Manger Square in front of the Church of the Nativity is largely deserted, and souvenir shops are shuttered.
Once again, there are no plans to put up the traditional lighted Christmas Tree in the ancient settlement that is revered by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus. The site now sits in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Adding to the gloom, many local Christian families are also looking to escape.
They are demoralised by both the tourist slump that has ravaged their economy and the constant threat of violence hovering over the territory northeast of Gaza.
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