• History buff and World Vision Lanka Nat. Director Dr. Dhanan Senathirajah on the econ. impact on Bethlehem this Christmas

Something very unique is happening in Bethlehem, Palestine, this year (2023) where the age-old-nativity scene is being changed and Christmas celebrations are being cancelled. The heads of churches in Jerusalem will only have prayers and place a manger in the midst of rubble, depicting a destroyed home with baby Jesus placed under that rubble, symbolic of the many children dead and alive, who have been pulled out of the rubble. It is a message to the world that this is what Christmas looks like in the City where Jesus was born. It is about reminding the world that children have been buried under the rubble, families have been displaced, homes have been destroyed, and that Christmas is only an illusion. Peace is the last thing that is happening in Jerusalem right now and for millennia, peace has been elusive to this region, which, in a way is ironic, because the prince of peace, as the Bible calls him, was born in this region. 

World Vision Lanka National Director and a bona fide history buff Dr. Dhanan Senathirajah was on Kaleidoscope to discuss what Christmas will be like this year in the place Jesus was born. 

Following are excerpts from the interview:

What’s Christmas looking like in Jerusalem and Bethlehem this year?

Usually, it’s a time for celebration and of great rejoicing in these areas, but sadly, this year, because of the war in Gaza, things are looking rather bleak. There are no celebrations. People are in a sombre mood. It’s not a very joyous occasion. 

Putting on your historian hat, please place in context where Jerusalem and Bethlehem stand right now?

Jerusalem is divided into two. At one point, the Western part fell under Israel and the Eastern part was under Jordan. After the war in 1967, Jerusalem was unified by Israel. It became part of Israel. Bethlehem is in the West Bank, which is under Palestinian control. 

So, that’s not auguring very well for the birthplace of the prince of peace?

Yes, because the Israeli Government also built a wall around Jerusalem, which separates it from Bethlehem. There’s a checkpoint which most Palestinians have to go through. Because of that, it’s difficult for Palestinians to visit the Christian or Muslim sites in Jerusalem. That has been a problem. 

Looking at the Bible story, why do you think that Bethlehem was chosen as the birthplace for Jesus?

There are two reasons. One, the name “Bethlehem” itself gives us a clue. In Arabic and Semitic languages, it means “the house of meat”. In Hebrew and in Aramaic, it means “the house of bread” or “the house of lentil”. This is in keeping with the biblical term “bread from heaven” being used for Jesus Christ. Also, the prophets of the old said in the Bible that the messiah would be born in the lineage of David. Bethlehem is David’s City, and so, it’s proper and normal for the messiah to be born in Bethlehem. When the angels appeared to Mary and gave her the annunciation of the birth of Christ in Nazareth, even though the family lived in Nazareth at the time, they travelled to Bethlehem for a census, the order for which was issued by the Governor of Syria at the time, Quirinius. That’s why the birth took place in Bethlehem. 

So, the Middle East has never had peace in that context, has it?

It’s tough because I don’t think that any part of the world has had peace forever. The Middle East, in particular around Jerusalem, has played host to many wars throughout the centuries. Jerusalem has, more than any other place in this world, been attacked, besieged, and taken over by different warring armies. Even during the Ottoman Empire, there were wars, then, World War I, the British mandate, and later, three wars have been fought between Israel and Palestinians or other Arab nations. It has always been a hotly contested piece of real estate. 

Given the great divide, what does Christmas mean to the Palestinians and the Israelites?

Christmas doesn’t mean a thing for the Israelites. In fact, during the period of Christmas, Jerusalem is highly decorated to celebrate Hanukkah, which is the Jewish festival of lights. In the Eastern part of Jerusalem however, which is more Palestinian, and in the Bethlehem area, there are Christmas lights and celebrations. It’s interesting that during the season, the Muslims and Christians come together to celebrate the birth of Christ. Bethlehem is full of festivities. You have the boy scouts’ parades, Jerusalem’s patriarchs visit the City, and there is joyous dancing on Christmas morning in the Manger Square. Visitors and pilgrims come there from all over the world to celebrate Christmas. 

There is a cancellation of celebrations both in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Since these places rely solely on tourism, what does this do to these economies?

Actually, 90% of the Palestinian West Bank economy is dependent on tourism. This year, the hotels are closed and the usual 22-foot Christmas tree has not been set up. There are no celebrations because of the suffering of the people, both in Israel and in Gaza. Because of that, even the souvenir shops are closed. People cannot make a living there. Similar to what happens in Kandy in Sri Lanka, during the time of the perahera (procession), hundreds of thousands of visitors would come in for a tour. This is peak tourism time for the Palestinians in Bethlehem to make money and to boost the economy. They are going to be suffering without this primary source of income.

How has Bethlehem coped with the strife it has undergone continually for decades?

It has affected the people quite a bit. In fact, the Christian population was at 86% in 1948. It has now whittled down to 12% as Muslims have immigrated there. Christians and Muslims in Bethlehem are very united. There is hardly any discrimination as they work together and live together peacefully. Sadly, the political situation in the West of Israel has affected the people there. There’s so much hardship, especially in terms of the economy, because of tourism being affected. Every time there are rockets fired from Gaza, or when there’s a suicide bombing, lots of pilgrim tours are cancelled. These things really impact the people’s livelihoods. 

In this strife, does the fact that Jesus was born in Bethlehem ever come into play?

It should, and it does. During Christmas, especially with regard to the Muslim and Christian Palestinians, people come together to celebrate together. They remember the message of Christmas, that the birth of Christ is about peace. If not for that intervention, Israel will be an even more difficult place to live in. Sadly, on both sides, there are extremists who want this battle to continue. There are so many people among the Israelites and Palestinians who are striving for peace. Let’s hope that something does work out in the near future. 

So, these conflicts are politically driven or sometimes extremist driven. But, there are people on both sides. What are these people like?

The challenge here is like it is elsewhere, there’s a lot of politics involved. The concept should be “live and let live”. I’ve done a lot of research in this area and I’ve spoken with lots of people. The solution is a two state solution, where Israel exists, and the West Bank and Gaza are united, connected by a road. Both nations can then survive together, with Jerusalem being an international City. This is the only way to bring peace to that land. Again, there are people who are willing to do this, but, extremists on both sides are blocking that progress. 

Is peace difficult for the Middle East, given its history?

I’m an incurable optimist and I would say that peace is indeed possible. We have had peace in other areas where we thought it is impossible to be united. But, it takes the effort of many people and many nations to bring these two groups together. There has been a lot of injustice towards both groups and no human being is perfect, but, I think that if all nations make an effort together, including the United Nations and the big five, which is the United States, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, and the European Union as a whole, they can bring about peace, provided that the Israeli Government is less intransigent. If they and the Palestinian representatives can come together and are willing, we can bring about the two state solution. That’ll bring lasting peace that will also influence the rest of the Middle East and the world over.

(The writer is the host, director, and co-producer of the weekly digital programme ‘Kaleidoscope with Savithri Rodrigo’ which can be viewed on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. She has over three decades of experience in print, electronic, and social media)