Christmas Octave

The Crib on the site of the
Annunciation (Nazareth)

Christmas in the Holyland is always special. And much more so in Bethlehem. It took place there. Pilgrims have come flowing back ... not too many though. They're mainly asians and africans. Very few europeans or americans. The weather is fine ... sunny and cool.

But sadly Christmas cheer here is always shortlived.  Blatant discrimination continues as 2012 ends. A Palestinian man was denied by the Post Office from sending a package to Britain because ... he was not Israeli.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israeli-post-office-says-palestinian-cannot-send-package-abroad.premium-1.490457

And it gets worse. On Boxing Day some Jewish fanatics sprayed pornographic graffiti on a Church wall in northern Israel. Though the church was long abandoned due to the war, it nevertheless receives many visitors who used to live in that town, and where the cemetery still stands.

All these remind us that the peace and joy of Christmas still remains elusive here in the very land where Christ was born. His followers still continue to suffer persecution ... even at Christmas time.