Islamic Hamas Donates Cash for Bethlehem's Christmas
The Hamas government has promised to donate US$50,000 to prepare Bethlehem for the traditional Christmas holidays.
by Daniel Blake
Posted: Monday, December 11, 2006, 21:56 (GMT)
The Hamas government, often labelled by the international community as Islamic militants, has promised to donate US$50,000 to prepare Bethlehem for the traditional Christmas holidays. The offering will be twice as much as given in previous years.
Known to be struggling financially, Hamas, has decided to donate the cash to Bethlehem, which is currently only sparsely decorated currently.
Even though the extra cash has been promised, it may not be enough to restore festivities to their fullest in the region, engulfed in Israeli-Palestinian fighting for the past 6 years.
Poverty is known to be affecting the area, and with Israel's West Bank separation barrier large numbers of Christians are now being seen leaving Bethlehem.
In 2005, just 2,500 foreign visitors toured Bethlehem during the Christmas season, compared to more than 90,000 a month prior to 2000 when the Palestinian uprising came about.
Local businesses are feeling the harsh reality of the ever-declining tourist economy. AP has reported that Abir Karram, who sells traditional hand-embroidered Palestinian dresses, can no longer afford to pay the 700 shekel (US$115) monthly rent for her workshop. Two years ago, she had 30 women working part time for her. Now she has no workers.
"The wall stopped tourists and Arabs from Israel," she said about the separation barrier, which is meant to stop Palestinian suicide bombings.
"Now people here have no salaries. It's like a well that finished drawing water," Karram added.
A 2004 United Nations report has estimated that about 10 percent of Christians had left Bethlehem following the violence up till that point.
The offering of extra funding has been greeted with mixed reactions among local Christians. Some have said they suspect the Islamic militants hoped to gain support from the international community; "It's just for show", said one anonymous elderly woman, according to AP.
Another Palestinian Catholic believed that Hamas should have given the money to the needy, but was sure that it was a sign of goodwill: "I appreciate it, because Bethlehem is the symbol of peace."
The acting finance minister, Samir Abu Eisha of Hamas, said, "We don't fund any Islamic celebrations, but we want to fund this Christian festival, which is a special part of Bethlehem. As a Palestinian government, we hope our Christian brothers have a happy celebration. They are an integral part of Palestinian society."
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The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Tuesday, January 9, 2007, 15:31 (GMT)
I'm suprised. I thought Hamas was intolerant of Christians, and wanted sharia law.
If they could be reasonable and tolerant, maybe there is hope.
Mike, NP, FL
Added: Monday, December 25, 2006, 14:07 (GMT)
Every one of the problems of Bethlehem’s Christians has the same source. It is the Islamic militants’ refusal to live in peace and equality alongside Israel, or, for that matter, any non-Muslims. As your reporter notes, before 2000 and the latest Palestinian violence, 90,000 Christians a month visited that holy city, despite more than thirty years of Israeli control. It is not the Israelis that have changed, but the rejection of statehood in 2000 by Yasir Arafat, and the bloodshed he incited, that is chasing Christian tourists and residents away—not just from the Palestinian territories, but from the Middle East in general.
The security barrier, sanctions, and violence all spring from the same well of hatred. The Hamas charter reads, “The Islamic Resistance Movement (the formal name for Hamas) is a distinct Palestinian Movement which owes its loyalty to Allah, derives from Islam its way of life and strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine.” “Every inch of Palestine”, of course, includes all of Israel, too.
Unfortunately, to the Islamofascist Grinches who have stolen Bethlehem’s Christmas, there is no place under that banner for either Christians or Jews.
John, Philadelphia, USA
Added: Monday, December 11, 2006, 23:05 (GMT)
The last comment by Samir Abu Eisha of Hamas moved my heart. "As a Palestinian government, we hope our Christian brothers have a happy celebration." Everyone was once brothers and sisters but have gone astray due to jealousy and separation. I wish everyone can reconcil and show goodwill towards each other.
Jess, SF, USA
Added: Monday, December 11, 2006, 22:57 (GMT)
I could see how some would view it as "show" money, and I can see how others would hope it was a sign of goodwill. Christians or not, those in Bethlehem are Palestinians also, so maybe Hamas is inclined to help them. Bethlehem is a sad example of the negative effects of the wall, and the thought of a wall running threw the birthplace of Jesus is very upsetting to me as a Christian.
Peace on earth to all, and may this holiday season bring about some positive changes, although times are so hard.
Isabella, Detroit, USA
