Christmas celebrations have begun in Bethlehem For the first time ever, Bethlehem celebrates Christmas after its inclusion on the list of world heritage sites by the UN's cultural arm, Unesco and raising the status of Palestine to an observer state in the United Nations. During his participation in the traditional Midnight Mass service in the Franciscan convent in the city of Bethlehem, President Mahmoud Abbas stated: "East Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Palestine and we will not give up this holy city. It will be an open city for all the monotheistic religions to practice their rituals freely." Abbas then added: "The Palestinian leadership is committed to the resolutions of international legitimacy in order to live together on this holy land in peace, security and stability, but they (the Israelis) must accept the international legitimacy."
"We came this year with a new feeling after we gained the observer status at the United Nations, but this is the first step and it will be followed by further steps to gain the full independence of the State of Palestine" Abbas continued, "Though many said there was no need to return to negotiations after the UN resolution, we say that is not true. We want to get back on the basis of international legitimacy. We are requiring the halt of all the settlement activities, as long as we belong to the United Nations and the Fourth Geneva Convention."
He urged the Israeli government to “halt all settlement activity in order to go back to the negotiating table" stressing that "it is not a requirement, but it is an international and legal obligation."
The President arrived to Bethlehem, on Monday evening, to attend the Midnight Mass service. Abbas was greeted by Bethlehem's governor, Abdel Fattah Hamayel, parliament members, the leaders of the security services in the province, mayors and a number of religious figures.
On the other side, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, headed the Midnight Mass service at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Fouad Twal arrived to Bethlehem accompanied by scouts and music bands.
He welcomed all participants of the service saying, "We welcome you today, from the Church of the Nativity, where the virgin delivered her baby", and he saluted all diasporas and all participants in the celebrations. He confirmed that "the divisions between the brothers is the work of the devil, while the reconciliation is the work of God " and urged for a reconciliation process includes all the Palestinian lands and all the countries of the Middle East."
At nightfall, a huge Christmas tree decorated with red rollers was lit in front of the Church of the Nativity.
Twal reached Bethlehem through the northern entrance of the city, where Israeli forces opened the huge iron gate that separates Bethlehem from Jerusalem and allowed a number of citizens carrying special cards to enter in a small square in front of Mar Elias Monastery, located on a hill overlooking the south Bethlehem and north to the city of Jerusalem.
When the Patriarch passed by the Azza refugee camp, a number of staff from UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees "UNRWA" gathered calling for their return to their places of work.
For his part, the Patriarch insisted on opening the window of his car and waved for the crowds.
Hamayel said that "this celebration is not only a religious celebration, but is a national celebration in light of the participation of all our people," and added, "Today we celebrate many things including the international recognition of a Palestinian state, and the inclusion of the Church of the Nativity and Najma Street within the World Heritage List."
He added: "This Christmas we carry the message of love, peace and calling for the international community to intervene to end the Israeli occupation which is the only occupation in the twenty-first century."
Christians around the world celebrated the Christmas, which many saw as an opportunity to reaffirm the need to bring peace to the world in general and to the Middle East in particular. In Rome, Pope Benedict XVI prayed for peace in the Middle East, during the Mass service, saying "I’m praying for peace in Palestine and Israel and Syria, Lebanon, Iraq."
In Syria, the Christian minority celebrated the Christmas in a church filled with worshippers in downtown Damascus, praying "for peace in the hearts of all Syrians."