BETHLEHEM, West Bank – At Christmas time the world looks to Jesus’ traditional birthplace of Bethlehem, and this year the Palestinians hope to use some of that attention to boost their quest for independence.
They’re trying to be subtle about it, with just a hint of politics in this year’s Christmas slogan, Palestine Celebrating Hope, a veiled reference to their bid this fall to win United Nations recognition of a Palestinian state.
Organizers said they didn’t want to be overtly political for fear of putting off foreign pilgrims in search of a religious experience. About 90 000 foreign visitors are expected to throng the Church Of The Nativity and adjacent Manger Square this month, including 50 000 during Christmas week.
“We want to use this opportunity to convey a message to the world that we have hope of having our own independent state and we need the international support for that,” said Palestinian tourism minister Khouloud Daibes.
“Since Christmas is a religious occasion, we can’t use direct political slogans.”
Volunteers will distribute postcards with the Christmas motto in the courtyard of the Church Of The Nativity, built over the grotto where tradition says Jesus was born. Visitors can then mail them at the Manger Square post office, using Palestinian stamps, another symbol of the state in the making.
Members of a tour group from Britain and Canada heading into the Nativity church on Tuesday had mixed feelings. Some, like 37-year-old pilot Mario Savian from Ontario, said they didn’t like injecting politics into Christmas. (AP)
