Published by
Al-Araby
Al-Araby
The streets of the old city in Bethlehem look empty for a usual late December Sunday. Souvenir shops remain closed, with some exceptions, since the beginning of the pandemic, two years ago. Pilgrims that used to fill the place with prayers in all languages, from Italian to Polish, are nowhere to be seen. But the Christmas atmosphere remains present. Visitors to the Nativity Basilica are localPalestinian Christians, coming from across the West Bank, Jerusalem and Galilee, but the majority are from Bethlehem itself. Although they all speak Arabic, their praying rites are different. Some are Gree…