CHRISTMAS EVENTS RETURN TO BETHLEHEM AFTER TWO YEARS OF GAZA WAR. (PHOTO).
Christmas events return to Bethlehem after two years of Gaza war Families filled John Juka’s long-quiet restaurant on Saturday evening, marking a dramatic shift from the past two years when Bethlehem’s streets sat dark, shuttered, and silent. Strings of red lights now glow across the city, reflecting a slow but meaningful return of Christmas traditions to the historic birthplace of Jesus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. After years of upheaval following the Gaza war, residents say the renewed festivities offer a fragile but welcome sign of relief and resilience. Juka, who watched his family’s restaurant sit empty through two holiday seasons, described the moment simply: “It’s not like it was before the war, but it feels like life is coming back again.” Bethlehem’s identity and livelihood are deeply tied to tourism, with the majority of its residents depending on pilgrims and visitors to keep the local economy moving. When the war erupted after the Hamas-led attack on Israe...
