The enormous plastic Christmas tree that would normally dominate Manger Square in Bethlehem is conspicuously absent this December.
Gone too are the sparkly lights above the plaza and the throngs of pilgrims who come to celebrate the birth of Jesus in the place where it happened.
For the first time in decades, Christmas celebrations are officially cancelled in Bethlehem.
Municipal authorities in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city made the decision to show solidarity with Palestinians during the war in the Gaza Strip, where more than 17,000 people have been killed, according to the Health Ministry.
“This is the place where Jesus was born,” said Father Issa Thaljieh, the parish priest of the Church of the Nativity, originally built in the fourth century on the spot where Jesus was thought to have been born.
"This is the place where [Jesus] sent the message of peace and love, and unfortunately we’ve never seen this peace.
“This is a message for all over the world … to stop the war, to stop killing civilians, to stop killing the kids.”
Speaking in the basilica that is one of Christianity's holiest sites, Fr Thaljieh told The National that he would still be officiating at Christmas religious services, but there would be none of the usual celebrations.
Ordinarily, hundreds of pilgrims would be crammed into the church, while Manger Square would be buzzing with excitement, he said.
On a recent Saturday, the church was nearly empty, save for a handful of young pupils from a nearby Christian school and the Ghattas family.
Both parties were in the cellar-like space that has been built over the spot Jesus is believed to have been born.
On a normal day, it would be hard to find a place to stand but today the view of the star that marks the exact spot of Christ's birth was unobstructed for the handful of faithful visiting.
"I'm so sad about what is happening in Gaza," said one young schoolgirl.
Even at the age of 13, the pupils accepted that Christmas this year would have to be different.
"We would like as kids to have celebrations but since our people in Gaza are not happy, they are sad, we will not be able to be happy," the girl said.
For George Ghattas, who works with a tourist agency that helps to arrange visits for pilgrims to Bethlehem, work has slowed dramatically since October 7.
"This year is different because of the situation here in Palestine," Mr Ghattas told The National as he toured the church with his wife, father and one-year-old son.
"We pray for peace and to keep the peace for this city."
The Christmas cancellation has been met with a sense of resignation by many in town, as no one was expecting a busy festive season in the first place.
Bethlehem's economy relies heavily on tourism, but almost all visitors stopped coming on October 7, the day Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people, and the war in Gaza began.
To make matters even more complicated, Israel has effectively locked down the occupied West Bank, making it extremely difficult for people to enter Bethlehem and other parts of the Palestinian territories.
A short drive from the church, Elias Al Arja, chairman of Palestine's hotel association, said the town had finally begun to claw its way back after the shutdowns and diminished tourist numbers caused by Covid-19.
Christmas celebrations were never cancelled during the pandemic.
Mr Al Arja, who owns the 220-room Bethlehem hotel, said that in a normal year the city's 5,000 hotel rooms would have a 75 per cent occupancy rate.
This year, it is essentially zero, with only the occasional journalist stopping overnight.
He said most hotels have simply closed down to weather the economic storm. Only seven of his 70 staff are still coming to work, mostly to keep things clean and secure.
Mr Al Arja said two of his family members were killed on October 17 in a strike at Al Ahli Hospital that Hamas and Israel have blamed on each other.
“When your relatives in Gaza died and you're celebrating, it's not [appropriate],” he said.
The last time Christmas festivities were cancelled was in 1987 during the First Intifada, said Fr Peter DuBrul, who has worked in Bethlehem for nearly 50 years.
Fr Garrett Gundlach, a fellow Jesuit priest who teaches at Bethlehem University, said his students are hesitant to acknowledge any joy in their lives when so much destruction is being wrought in Gaza.
Some do not feel they can even post a picture of their birthday cake on social media.
'It would be ridiculous to then celebrate Christmas with all the fanfare,” Fr Gundlach said.
“It's very much coming out of a place of collective mourning."
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
The National selections
Al Ain
5pm: Bolereau
5.30pm: Rich And Famous
6pm: Duc De Faust
6.30pm: Al Thoura
7pm: AF Arrab
7.30pm: Al Jazi
8pm: Futoon
Jebel Ali
1.45pm: AF Kal Noor
2.15pm: Galaxy Road
2.45pm: Dark Thunder
3.15pm: Inverleigh
3.45pm: Bawaasil
4.15pm: Initial
4.45pm: Tafaakhor
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
england euro squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Man Utd), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Defenders: John Stones (Man City), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Man City), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Reece James (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders: Mason Mount (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
- Don’t do it more than once in three days
- Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days
- Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode
- Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well
- Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days
- Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates
- Manage your sleep
- People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting
- Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The years Ramadan fell in May
More on animal trafficking
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
MATCH INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
UAE v Oman - abandoned
Oman v Namibia - abandoned
Company%20Profile
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Scoreline:
Barcelona 2
Suarez 85', Messi 86'
Atletico Madrid 0
Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)
Zayed Sustainability Prize
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier
Event info: The tournament in Kuwait this month is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.
UAE’s fixtures: Fri Apr 20, UAE v Qatar; Sat Apr 21, UAE v Saudi Arabia; Mon Apr 23, UAE v Bahrain; Tue Apr 24, UAE v Maldives; Thu Apr 26, UAE v Kuwait
World T20 2020 Qualifying process:
- Sixteen teams will play at the World T20 in two years’ time.
- Australia have already qualified as hosts
- Nine places are available to the top nine ranked sides in the ICC’s T20i standings, not including Australia, on Dec 31, 2018.
- The final six teams will be decided by a 14-team World T20 Qualifier.
World T20 standings: 1 Pakistan; 2 Australia; 3 India; 4 New Zealand; 5 England; 6 South Africa; 7 West Indies; 8 Sri Lanka; 9 Afghanistan; 10 Bangladesh; 11 Scotland; 12 Zimbabwe; 13 UAE; 14 Netherlands; 15 Hong Kong; 16 Papua New Guinea; 17 Oman; 18 Ireland
