BETHLEHEM, West Bank - As the West Bank town of Bethlehem readies for its annual Christmas festivities, the traditional birthplace of Jesus is enduring some of the toughest times in its history, its mayor said Monday.
"This year, the birthplace of Jesus, though its history is full of inspirational stories, is living one of its history's darkest chapters," Victor Batarseh told reporters during his annual Christmas address.
Israel's separation barrier (dubbed ‘Apartheid wall’ by critics) which snakes deep inside the West Bank has taken a particular toll on this city of some 40,000, cutting off access to farm land and isolating laborers from jobs in Jerusalem just minutes to the north.
"Today we live in what is similar to a big prison," said Batarseh, a 71-year-old former activist in the Marxist-leaning Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
"The entrance of tourists and pilgrims has been severely affected by the tight and unjustified Israeli security measures at the gate of our holy town."
"Usually around Christmastime Bethlehem used to be packed with tourists and pilgrims," the mayor said. "Now, as you can see, the little town seems to be so quiet under the shadow of this wall."
The wall has devastated Palestinian farmers as well, the mayor said, adding that 7,000 dunums (about 700 acres or 280 hectares) of arable land were confiscated to make way for the barrier's cement blocks and foreboding guard towers.
"Many Palestinian farmers are denied access to reach their lands to collect their harvest," Batarseh said. "Many others have no access to markets to sell their produce."
The dwindling tourist numbers, Israeli closures and the severe limits on Palestinian work permits have sent unemployment in Bethlehem soaring to 65 percent, Batarseh said.
The fiscal crisis has left the Bethlehem municipality unable to pay employees' salaries for over three months, according to Batarseh.
"There will be no clothes for the employees' children this year and Santa will not visit them," he added.
The Hamas-led government promised the town 50,000 dollars for Christmas decorations, but the money has yet to arrive. Still, Batarseh, said to be a Hamas ally despite his Christian faith, refused to criticize the ruling Islamists.
"We do not say that it is an Islamic government, or a Hamas government," Batarseh said. "It is a Palestinian government that has been elected by Palestinian people. We are all one people."
In recent years, the numbers of Christians living in the Palestinian territories has shrunk, as those with means, have fled abroad. Bethlehem was once a predominantly Christian town, but today Muslims make up the majority. Though both Christians and Muslims suffer equally under Israeli occupation, Christians usually have more support from people abroad to help them travel.
"Yet we keep holding deep faith in peace," the mayor said. "We pray that the star of the nativity will shine on Bethlehem once again."
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