The day the lights went out in Bethlehem

When Palestinians lit their Christmas tree in Manger Square, occupied Bethlehem, they sent a message of peace to the world. But days later the Palestinian anti-separation wall minister Ziad Abu Ein was killed in a confrontation with Israeli soldiers - a message from the Israelis that Palestinians would not live with justice.

Palestinian leaders called for three days of mourning for Abu Ein and in a solemn tribute, the lights on Bethlehem's famed Christmas tree were turned off.

"After the main Christmas tree brought some joy to our city, its lights were turned off, one day after the assassination of Abu Ein, on Wednesday, in the town of Turmus’ayya, north of Ramallah," Bethlehem's mayor, Vera Baboun, told al-Araby al-Jadeed.

"His assassination was a slap in the face for human justice, but this won't deter us from continuing to shout for this justice."

Baboun added that the town, the accepted birthplace of Jesus, felt compelled to turn out the lights.

"The Christmas tree is the basis for renewing the spirit of peace, love and justice. Today the tree lights have been extinguished. How could we not express our sorrow by turning the Christmas tree lights off, when the defenders of peace are being killed?

"Bethlehem is sad for Ziad's absence, for the city is being threatened with the completion of building the second part of the wall that Ziad was fighting against. However, we are still against the besiegement and strangling of our city."

Musa Hadid, the mayor of Ramallah, told al-Araby: "In the middle of our festive season, we are facing wounds and blood. Justice was our motto for this year, but we have turned off the Christmas tree lights after Israel killed justice."

Towns in the occupied West Bank are beset with injustices caused by the occupation: Israeli authorities confiscated Bethlehem's Christmas tree decorations for a week before they were allowed to reach the little town.

Olivewood souvenir makers in the birthplace of Christ, some of whom are fourth or fifth generation craftsmen, say they are prevented from selling their wares in occupied Jerusalem, just two miles away, because of the separation wall.

It is easier to export to Jerusalem, New York, than it is to get products to its namesake, remarked one craftsman in Bethlehem.

But this is almost nothing when placed against the stark contrast here, between the barbarity of Abu Ein's death, at a time when peace and joy are in the minds of so many.

This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.