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CNN Live At Daybreak

Bethlehem Christmas Celebrations

Aired December 24, 2003 - 06:06   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: On the day before Christmas, celebrations are about to begin in Bethlehem.
Our John Vause is there with a report on today's activities and the somber mood in that city -- John.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fred.

Well, in about 30 minutes from now, we're expecting the Latin patriarch, who is the pope's envoy to Jerusalem, to arrive here in Bethlehem. And like everybody else, he'll have to go through an Israeli checkpoint.

We're starting to see a few hundred people, almost a thousand or so people gathering in Manger Square just below us, but mostly local residents here this year. Now, in better times, there would be thousands of pilgrims gathered in Manger Square to celebrate Christmas. This year, though, there are just a few hundred, but that is an improvement on the year before.

The three-year intifada has taken its toll on this city, this city which relies on tourism. Hotels and restaurants are mostly empty. But according to the mayor, the unemployment rate is now around 60 percent.

And for the third year, the Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat, will not be attending midnight mass, because Israel says if he does come to Bethlehem, it will not guarantee that he can return to his compound in Ramallah.

So, it's all making for a sense of doom and despair, if you like, and gloom here in Bethlehem -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, John Vause, thank you very much for that report.

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 24, 2003 - 06:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: On the day before Christmas, celebrations are about to begin in Bethlehem.
Our John Vause is there with a report on today's activities and the somber mood in that city -- John.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fred.

Well, in about 30 minutes from now, we're expecting the Latin patriarch, who is the pope's envoy to Jerusalem, to arrive here in Bethlehem. And like everybody else, he'll have to go through an Israeli checkpoint.

We're starting to see a few hundred people, almost a thousand or so people gathering in Manger Square just below us, but mostly local residents here this year. Now, in better times, there would be thousands of pilgrims gathered in Manger Square to celebrate Christmas. This year, though, there are just a few hundred, but that is an improvement on the year before.

The three-year intifada has taken its toll on this city, this city which relies on tourism. Hotels and restaurants are mostly empty. But according to the mayor, the unemployment rate is now around 60 percent.

And for the third year, the Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat, will not be attending midnight mass, because Israel says if he does come to Bethlehem, it will not guarantee that he can return to his compound in Ramallah.

So, it's all making for a sense of doom and despair, if you like, and gloom here in Bethlehem -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, John Vause, thank you very much for that report.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.