The birthplace of Jesus is marking a second subdued Christmas as locals continue to live under the shadow of the war in Gaza. The town of Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank, normally welcomes thousands of tourists around the holidays,

Amid war and loss, Bethlehem marks a somber Christmas, with prayers for peace and resilience echoing through the Church of the Nativity and beyond

The festive lights and giant tree that normally decorate Manger Square were missing, as were the throngs of foreign tourists that usually fill the square. Palestinian scouts marched silently through the streets, a departure from their usual raucous brass ...

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem prepared Tuesday to mark another somber Christmas in the traditional birthplace of Jesus under the shadow of war in Gaza.

The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem’s economy.

Bethlehem prepared Tuesday to mark another somber Christmas in the traditional birthplace of Jesus under the shadow of war in Gaza. The excitement and cheer that typically descends on the Palestinian town in the occupied West Bank on Christmas were nowhere to be found: The festive lights and giant tree that normally decorate Manger Square were missing.