A 15-meter Christmas tree dominates Bethlehem’s Manger Square, vying in height with a key Christian landmark: the basilica built over the grotto where Jesus was born. It’s a familiar sight, but this year it has a new feel. The City Council has resumed Christmas celebrations, including the emotional tree-lighting ceremony, after a two-year hiatus in solidarity with the massacre of their fellow Palestinians in Gaza. “After two years of silence, we decided to rekindle hope and the Christmas spirit to strengthen people’s resilience. Many people lost hope, and when that happens, it’s the end,” explains Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati in an interview at City Hall. Across the square, foreign visitors are beginning to appear — albeit tentatively — taking selfies, and a Santa Claus is seen ringing his bell.
