Residents lit up a large Christmas tree exterior Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity on Saturday (December 4), hoping {that a} new coronavirus variant doesn’t spoil one other vacation season within the conventional birthplace of Jesus.
The Palestinian metropolis within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution was all however closed final Christmas, dropping its peak vacationer season to the pandemic.
This December has seen Israel shut out international vacationers for 14 days to attempt to stop the Omicron variant taking maintain, and the hope is that the ban will finish as scheduled, in time for Christmas journey. In its final pre-pandemic winter, in 2019/20, Bethlehem hosted 3.5 million guests.
The enormous tree, topped with a vivid purple star, was lit up with a whole bunch of coloured lights as purple, white and inexperienced fireworks illuminated the evening sky.
Mayor Anton Salman stated the journey ban had prevented a number of international delegations attending.
Nonetheless, the viewers in Manger Sq. in entrance of the church was far larger than final yr, when coronavirus restrictions saved even native spectators away.
“It is extremely joyful, a really good night. The air is stuffed with hope, filled with pleasure, filled with expectation,” stated Maria, a vacationer from Finland.