38. Photo Essay - Bethlehem: The Town of Jesus' Birth continues to suffer out of the Spotlight
The town of Bethlehem has been a site of pilgrimage for Christians for almost 2000 years. During the millennium celebrations of 2000 more than 1 million people visited. However, the start of the second Intifada towards the end of that year and the resulting closures and military incursions have seriously damaged the tourism industry, the most important part of the local economy. In 2002, when there were three major invasions of the town, there were only about 9,000 visitors. The evidence of destruction of property, from this time can still be seen.
The headquarters of the Palestinian Authority was demolished, the presidential palace next to it was also damaged and the road has only recently been resurfaced after it was extensively damaged by the tanks and other military vehicles.
Military incursions still occur, if not on the scale of 2002. According to the Palestinian Monitoring Group (www.nad-plo.org/PMGlist.php) on 13 July 2004:
-- At 0220, the Israeli army raided the city of Bethlehem and took up positions in several neighbourhoods in the city…
-- At 0300, the Israeli army raided Ad Dheishe refugee camp and demolished one civilian house belonging to the family of a political prisoner.
-- At 0500 the Israeli army withdrew from the area.
The house demolished in Deheisha refugee camp belonged to the family of an 18-year-old youth, who had been arrested a few weeks prior to the demolition. According to his mother, the charges against her son date from events that are alleged to have happened over two years ago. The mother said that no warning at all had been given before the IDF appeared on her doorstep at 3 a.m., and that the family had just time to remove their papers, before their house was blown up.
Thanks to the Bethlehem Governate for help in compiling this report.
Matt Robson, United Kingdom
Bethlehem04DeheishaDemolishedHouse
A house that was demolished in the Deheisha refugee camp in Bethlehem.
Bethlehem08DeheishaDemolishedHouseBars
A look through the dangling wire reveals what once was a room in a family's house.
Bethlehem03MuqataRubbleWires
A view of the mangled wires and rubble where the Palestinian Authority building in Bethlehem once stood.
Bethlehem02MuqataRubble
All that remains of the Palestinian Authority building in Bethlehem is rubble.
Bethlehem01Muqata
The Palestinian Authority building that was destroyed during the 2002 incursions into Bethlehem.
Bethlehem05DeheishaDemolishedHouseFrontDoor
The front door of this family's home still remains after the house was demolished.
