Christmas back on in Bethlehem

A deserted Church of the Nativity tells the story

Bethlehem, revered by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, has said its Christmas festivities will go ahead as planned, despite continuing Israeli-Palestinian violence.

The mayor of the town, where tourists have not been seen for weeks, said celebrations on 24 December would be low-key but called on pilgrims to proceed with travel plans.

"All the rumours about the cancellation of Christmas in Bethlehem are ridiculous," Mayor Hanna Nasser told Reuters news agency.

Hanging over Bethlehem is a sad atmosphere but we are going to celebrate Christmas

Mayor Hanna Nasser

His appeal comes 10 days after a spokesman for the municipal authorities said festivities had been called off after the killings of hundreds of people in violence since late September.

The bloodshed - in which more than 300 people, mostly Palestinians, have been killed - has wiped out crucial tourist revenues at what is normally Bethlehem's busiest time of the year.

Israel has sealed off the town, along with a number of others in Palestinian-ruled areas, for what it says are security reasons.

On Monday, Bethlehem was mourning its latest victim of the violence, a young man shot dead by Israeli soldiers.

"Hanging over Bethlehem is a sad atmosphere but we are going to celebrate Christmas - on a lower level.

"I tell all pilgrims they can come here to pray," Mr Nasser said, adding that it was safe to visit.

Tourism losses

He said festive street lights - still hanging from last year's celebrations - would be switched on, and carol concerts which usually attract thousands to Manger Square would be held as scheduled.

The square will also have its famous giant Christmas tree as normal and midnight mass will be said in the Church of the Nativity.

Heavily armed soldiers ring the town

Last year thousands thronged Bethlehem to mark the last Christmas before the year 2000.

Local merchants had anticipated record business for this Christmas, predicting that visitors would flock in huge numbers to celebrate Jesus's 2,000th birthday.

Mr Nasser put tourism losses at millions of dollars since violent unrest began.

But despite his eleventh-hour appeal, Bethlehem still looks likely to lose out.

Ten days ago Bethlehem 2000, the body set up by the Palestinians as part of their millennium celebrations, said some travel operators had already cancelled tours as far ahead as Easter.