Message to Christians from the Mayor of Bethlehem
saleh on December 14th, 2004Mayor of Bethlehem criticizes the “silence” of the Christian world
IMEMC-News Desk & Agencies, December 14, 2004, 08:02
Mr. Hanna Nasser, Mayor of Bethlehem criticized the “silence of the Christian world” amidst all sort of military aggressions and violations in Bethlehem and described their position as shameful”.
Nasser in a press conference held in relation to the upcoming Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem , said that Bethlehem had been subjected to continuous military invasion for more than four year,
while the Christian world stood helpless.
“For more than four years, army continuously invaded the city, destroyed confiscated lands, while the Christian world stood helpless in spite that Bethlehem has a unique importance for the Christians, and non Christians, all over the world”.
Nasser added that when the church of Nativity was surrounded on April 2002, the world stood short of saving the city and when the crisis was solved, the besieged residents were deported to the Gaza Strip and Europe.
Moreover, Nasser said that the army is continuously confiscating lands in the north of the city for the separation wall, while settlers and soldiers controlled Palestinian homes near Rachel Tomb, in order to transfer the tomb and Bilal Bin Rabah mosque area into settlements.
“What is happening in the holy city of Bethlehem is an shameful act to the Israeli government which conducts these violations while the Christian world is watching these violations without attempting to save the city”, Nasser said.
Nasser added hat the size of Bethlehem is reducing as the Israeli authorities continued their plans to expand the settlements surrounding the city and destroying its fields, in addition to
destroying the northern entrance which is the main “gate” for tourists and pilgrims to the holy city.
