BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) – The birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem in the southern West Bank, has been ornamented since the early morning hours Saturday preparing for Christmas Eve.
Police officers deployed on the main roads and crossroads to keep order and secure religious parades expected to arrive during the day to the Manger Square and the Nativity Church.
Local Christians and tourists started to gather at Manger Square early Saturday, days after the streets and main squares were decorated. A huge Christmas tree has been erected in Manger Square.
The parade of the Latin Patriarch of Palestine and Jordan Fuad Twal is scheduled to enter Bethlehem from the northern entrance via Manger street and then up through Star Street and on toward the Nativity Church.
Scouts from Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, Beit Jala, Nazareth, Jerusalem and Haifa among other cities have started drumming along Bethlehem’s streets preparing to receive and escort the Patriarch.
Bethlehem police say more than 500 police officers have been deployed along the Nativity Street as several roads have been closed to traffic. Medics and ambulances have also been deployed around the square for any emergency.
Activists of the Palestinian National Initiative are distributing pamphlets in Arabic, English, Russian and French calling for boycotting Israeli products. The local coordinator of the PNI Mazin Al-Azza says activists dressed like Santa Claus and distributed pamphlets.
He added that the PNI prepared two Christmas trees, one of which is a replica of the separation wall designed by Palestinian artist Rana Bishara. The second is surrounded with a fence and grenades symbolizing Israeli assaults aginst Bethlehem and other areas.
Police officers deployed on the main roads and crossroads to keep order and secure religious parades expected to arrive during the day to the Manger Square and the Nativity Church.
Local Christians and tourists started to gather at Manger Square early Saturday, days after the streets and main squares were decorated. A huge Christmas tree has been erected in Manger Square.
The parade of the Latin Patriarch of Palestine and Jordan Fuad Twal is scheduled to enter Bethlehem from the northern entrance via Manger street and then up through Star Street and on toward the Nativity Church.
Scouts from Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, Beit Jala, Nazareth, Jerusalem and Haifa among other cities have started drumming along Bethlehem’s streets preparing to receive and escort the Patriarch.
Bethlehem police say more than 500 police officers have been deployed along the Nativity Street as several roads have been closed to traffic. Medics and ambulances have also been deployed around the square for any emergency.
Activists of the Palestinian National Initiative are distributing pamphlets in Arabic, English, Russian and French calling for boycotting Israeli products. The local coordinator of the PNI Mazin Al-Azza says activists dressed like Santa Claus and distributed pamphlets.
He added that the PNI prepared two Christmas trees, one of which is a replica of the separation wall designed by Palestinian artist Rana Bishara. The second is surrounded with a fence and grenades symbolizing Israeli assaults aginst Bethlehem and other areas.
Maan News Agency
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