Bethlehem Mayor urges help for Christians

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) – Slowly the Christian presence in the Holy Land is waning.

Hanna Nasser, Mayor of Bethlehem, today launched an appeal to world public opinion to do something for the Christian population of the city forced to leave because of high levels of unemployment caused by a downturn in religious tourism.

The mayor was quoted in the Palestinian daily al-Quds as saying that the Israeli security barrier is damaging the local tourist industry. Not only are Palestinian lands being expropriated to build the wall, but Israel has de facto annexed Rachel's Tomb. What's more, with land communication between Jerusalem and Bethlehem made more difficult fewer pilgrims are coming.

In Jerusalem Israeli daily Maariv recently revealed that two buildings in the Old City sold by the Greek Orthodox Church were in fact purchased by Jewish nationalists who want to judaise the Old City.

Using foreigners as apparent buyers, Jewish nationalists paid millions of dollars to get their hands on the Imperial and Petra Hotels near Jaffa Gate, not far from Old City's Jewish Quarter.

• israel
• palestine
• christians
• holy
• land
• expropriations
• pilgrims
• tourism