Christmas is the season of love, joy and peace. It is an occasion for prayer and faith as it reminds us of God’s great gift to mankind, which is the birth of Christ our Saviour in Bethlehem. It was in the sky of Bethlehem that the Angels heralded " Glory to God in the Highest, Peace on earth and good will towards men".

As sons of Bethlehem and descendants of the Shepherds who first heard this sacred message, we feel honored and privileged and we keep expecting every Christmas that this Holy occasion would bring with it the winds of change with seeds of peace that are liable to end our hardships and captivity.

Yet the suffering of the town of Nativity endures and new agony for its people springs up. Bethlehem this year is grieved by the passing away of our President Yasser Arafat, the historical leader of the Palestinian people. Our sorrow is so big for this great loss of the father of the nation and a constructor of peace who regretfully has left before his cherished dream of achieving peace in our region is fulfilled.

Each year I try not to be gloomy in my Christmas message but the harsh facts on the ground and the clouds of instability and suffering that continue to overshadow Bethlehem strongly push me to this direction. Living under occupation is certainly the most painful experience man can face and the biggest offense to human rights and dignity.

We each day have to swallow the bitterness of the Israeli practices: killing of our people, demolition of houses, arrest and humiliation. The closure and the oppressive siege have crippled Bethlehem and deteriorated the living conditions of its people to an unprecedented degree. Work has started with the blessing of the Israeli High Court of Justice to annex Rachel’s Tomb area to Israel thus stripping off a very vital and a dear part of Bethlehem from its natural environment.

We live in the horror of the separation wall that has cost Bethlehem considerable part of its lands. It has suffocated our town as it separates it from its sister city Jerusalem and isolates it from the outside world. In consequence, our daily life has been affected including our ability to sustain ourselves. Temptation to emigrate is therefore excessively growing amongst the people of Bethlehem.

However, we shall not allow these ordeals to dispossess us from the values revered in Christmas or to lose hope. Christmas for us is the light in the Middle of darkness. It is time when prayers are needed more than ever to achieve peace in this Holy Land. We feel the newborn in the Manger profoundly present with us giving us strength and hope. Christmas is a new dawn with saving promise for all.

The message of Bethlehem at Christmas is a message of justice, an appeal to all people of good will to do whatever they can to achieve durable peace in our Holy Land, peace that is based on justice, equality and mutual respect. Jesus said: " Blessed are the peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God."

My message is a painful cry out of the captivity and oppression extended to the whole international community to spare no effort for the sake of putting an end to the Israeli occupation to the Palestinian lands that is the source of all troubles and the only obstacle in front of peace.

My message is addressed to all our Christian brethren. To them I say: Do not forget Bethlehem. Rescue it. Give it the care and support at this time of need that matches its religious significance as the cradle of Christianity. Visit the place where your roots are stretched.

"Bethlehem always warmly welcomes you"

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year