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CNN Live At Daybreak
Blue Christmas in Bethlehem
Aired December 23, 2002 - 06:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: In the days leading up to Christmas, Bethlehem is usually filled with tourists, but this year, many people have chosen to stay away, because Israeli troops have reoccupied the Palestinian town.
As CNN's Kelly Wallace reports, that's leading to a blue Christmas and a silent night in Bethlehem.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It looks like business as usual at this olive woodcarving factory in Bethlehem. Just before Christmas, workers busily carved nativity scenes and create little crosses by the bucket load, but these are not ordinary times.
JOSEPH GIACMAN, BETHLEHEM STORE OWNER: This was made -- prepared for when there is good business, and now there is no business, and don't know what we have to do (ph).
WALLACE: The tourists have stayed away since the Palestinian intifada began more than two years ago, Joseph Giacman told us. That means no customers as Christmas, normally the busiest time for his family's factory and gift shops.
GIACMAN: Nobody feels that it is Christmas here.
WALLACE: This was the scene on Christmas Eve just three years ago in this Palestinian town where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born. Manger Square lit up for the holidays and for the millennium. This year will be very different.
(on camera): For the first time in Bethlehem's history, the tree outside of the Church of the Nativity won't be decorated for Christmas. No holiday decorations at all throughout Manger Square. It's all a sign of protest.
(voice-over): Protest against Israel for reoccupying Bethlehem.
ZIAD AL-BANDAK, BETHLEHEM DEPUTY MAYOR: As you see this year, the city itself is very sad, because they have occupied it, they have destroyed it, they have killed the joy.
WALLACE: Israeli forces moved in most recently late last month after a November 21 suicide bombing, a man from Bethlehem blew up a Jerusalem bus, killing 11 Israelis, including four children. Israel says its forces must be in Bethlehem to prevent terror attacks against Israeli civilians. However, Israeli officials say their soldiers won't interfere with Bethlehem's Christmas Eve festivities.
RA'ANAN GISSIN, SENIOR SHARON ADVISOR: We are determined to provide to the best of our ability full, safe and secure access to any Christian who wants to pray in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve.
WALLACE: But for the second year in a row, Israel will block Muslim Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from visiting midnight mass here, his seat expected to be left empty just like last year.
On this day, the streets bristle with activity as the Israeli military temporarily lifts its curfew. For now, Palestinian Christians prepare for what they say will be a sad Christmas, but people like Joseph say they're not giving up.
GIACMAN: We always hope. We live in Bethlehem. We (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
WALLACE: Hope and prayers for a peaceful Christmas next year.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, Bethlehem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired December 23, 2002 - 06:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: In the days leading up to Christmas, Bethlehem is usually filled with tourists, but this year, many people have chosen to stay away, because Israeli troops have reoccupied the Palestinian town.
As CNN's Kelly Wallace reports, that's leading to a blue Christmas and a silent night in Bethlehem.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It looks like business as usual at this olive woodcarving factory in Bethlehem. Just before Christmas, workers busily carved nativity scenes and create little crosses by the bucket load, but these are not ordinary times.
JOSEPH GIACMAN, BETHLEHEM STORE OWNER: This was made -- prepared for when there is good business, and now there is no business, and don't know what we have to do (ph).
WALLACE: The tourists have stayed away since the Palestinian intifada began more than two years ago, Joseph Giacman told us. That means no customers as Christmas, normally the busiest time for his family's factory and gift shops.
GIACMAN: Nobody feels that it is Christmas here.
WALLACE: This was the scene on Christmas Eve just three years ago in this Palestinian town where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born. Manger Square lit up for the holidays and for the millennium. This year will be very different.
(on camera): For the first time in Bethlehem's history, the tree outside of the Church of the Nativity won't be decorated for Christmas. No holiday decorations at all throughout Manger Square. It's all a sign of protest.
(voice-over): Protest against Israel for reoccupying Bethlehem.
ZIAD AL-BANDAK, BETHLEHEM DEPUTY MAYOR: As you see this year, the city itself is very sad, because they have occupied it, they have destroyed it, they have killed the joy.
WALLACE: Israeli forces moved in most recently late last month after a November 21 suicide bombing, a man from Bethlehem blew up a Jerusalem bus, killing 11 Israelis, including four children. Israel says its forces must be in Bethlehem to prevent terror attacks against Israeli civilians. However, Israeli officials say their soldiers won't interfere with Bethlehem's Christmas Eve festivities.
RA'ANAN GISSIN, SENIOR SHARON ADVISOR: We are determined to provide to the best of our ability full, safe and secure access to any Christian who wants to pray in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve.
WALLACE: But for the second year in a row, Israel will block Muslim Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from visiting midnight mass here, his seat expected to be left empty just like last year.
On this day, the streets bristle with activity as the Israeli military temporarily lifts its curfew. For now, Palestinian Christians prepare for what they say will be a sad Christmas, but people like Joseph say they're not giving up.
GIACMAN: We always hope. We live in Bethlehem. We (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
WALLACE: Hope and prayers for a peaceful Christmas next year.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, Bethlehem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
