Christian Palastinians

[Gkbarnes]

Hi all

I've found some pictures of Palastinian Christians.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/middle_east_christmas_in_the_west_bank/html/1.stm

A mother says;

"We hope to see Bethlehem," she says. "I've never been able to take them there." This is despite Jesus' birthplace being physically only about 90 minutes drive away.

That's like me never going into the centre of London.

 

[rahma]

Palestinian children play along a section of Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, traitionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005. Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, the top Roman Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land said Israel's West Bank separation barrier, which surrounds most of Bethlehem has turned the town into a 'big prison.' Israeli authorities will ease access to Bethlehem during Christmas in a 'calculated risk' meant to let Christian pilgrims celebrate the holiday freely in the West Bank town, security officials said. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

A vehicle drives beside the controversial Israeli barrier in the West Bank city of Bethlehem December 21, 2005. Pilgrims travelling the ancient route from Jerusalem to Bethlehem this Christmas will find themselves hitting a dead end -- a towering concrete wall and metal gate under the lock and key of the Israeli army. The dusty road to the town of Jesus's birth has been the gateway to Bethlehem since biblical times and would have been the likely path taken by Mary and Joseph. But today it leads to what the mayor of Bethlehem calls 'the world's largest prison'. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

A section of Israel's separation barrier is seen through a security fence as it runs past a Franciscan Convent in the Aida refugee camp in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005. Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, the top Roman Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land said Israel's West Bank separation barrier, which surrounds most of Bethlehem has turned the town into a 'big prison.' Israeli authorities will ease access to Bethlehem during Christmas in a 'calculated risk' meant to let Christian pilgrims celebrate the holiday freely in the West Bank town, security officials said. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

Seen from the outskirts of Jerusalem, a section of Israel's separation barrier runs along the Aida refugee camp, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005. Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, the top Roman Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land said Israel's West Bank separation barrier, which surrounds most of Bethlehem has turned the town into a 'big prison.' Israeli authorities will ease access to Bethlehem during Christmas in a 'calculated risk' meant to let Christian pilgrims celebrate the holiday freely in the West Bank town, security officials said. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

Christmas lights are seen as an Israeli army jeep patrols a section of Israel's separation barrier at the entrance to the West Bank town of Bethlehem, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005. Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, the top Roman Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land said Israel's West Bank separation barrier, which surrounds most of Bethlehem has turned the town into a 'big prison.' Israeli authorities will ease access to Bethlehem during Christmas in a 'calculated risk' meant to let Christian pilgrims celebrate the holiday freely in the West Bank town, security officials said. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

 

[rahma]

A nun sits inside the Grotto, the site where Christians believe Jesus was born, within the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem Friday, Dec. 23, 2005. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Franciscan priests walk in procession towards the grotto, on the site where tradition says Jesus was born, at the Church of the Nativity, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem Friday Dec. 23, 2005.(AP Photo/Enric Marti)

A nun of the congregation of Mother Teresa of Calcuta holds a prayer book with an image of Jesus as she prays inside the Grotto, the site where Christians believe Jesus was born, within the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem Friday, Dec. 23, 2005. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Christian Palestinians walk through Bethlehem's Manger Square. The hotels may not be full and Israel's 'wall' may have cut it off from Jerusalem, but after five years of misery, Bethlehem is looking forward to a slightly happier Christmas(AFP/Awad Awad)