Abbas in Bethlehem: We hope for year of peace
PA leader says Palestinians seek peace 'in path of Jesus,' expresses hope for state next year
President Mahmoud Abbas, who traveled to Bethlehem Friday to greet Christmas revelers in the West Bank city, says he hopes a Palestinian state will be established next year.
"We are seekers of peace in the path of Jesus," he said. "We hope that next year will be a year of peace by establishing the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with Israel in peace and security."
Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, is celebrating its merriest Christmas in years, as tens of thousands of tourists thronged the town on Friday for the annual holiday festivities in this biblical West Bank town.
Officials said the turnout was shaping up to be the largest since 2000. Unseasonably mild weather, a virtual halt in Israeli-Palestinian violence and a burgeoning economic revival in the West Bank all added to the holiday cheer.
By nightfall, a packed Manger Square was awash in red, blue, green and yellow Christmas lights.
Merrymakers blasted horns, bands sang traditional Christmas carols in Arabic, boy scout marching bands performed and Palestinian policemen deployed around the town to keep the peace.
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook
