Around 1000 Palestinians and Internationals marhced on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25 2002 under the banner, "Imprisoned in my Land, Stop the Israeli Apartheid Wall". The marchers carried signs like, "End the Israeli Occupation" and "Bethlehem is sad on Christmas Day" reminding the world of the suffering that the people in Palestine are suffering as a result of the Israeli Occupation and calling the world to committ to their human responsiblity to put some effort in ending the Israeli occupation to Palestine that is becoming an Apartheid day by day.

This is the smallest candle procession organized in Beit Sahour since 1991. The bad weather was one of the reasons why not more than 1000 were in the procession, where frustration is the major reason. Many people feel that this is a waste of time since Israel is backed up by the USA and that their policy is going to be implemented whether we like it or not or whether we protested or not.

The march started at 4:30 pm under heavy rain. Yet the torches gave some warmth to the people who participated in the march. Needless to say that Bethlehem had spent of its sadest Christmasses since two thousand years because of the Israeli occupation in the same way people in Palestine received Ramadan and the Easter in May 2002 where the Church of the Nativity was under a severe siege by the Israeli Army.

Groups of International Peace activists joined the Palestinians in their march carrying the same slogan.

This march is a call for the world to End the Israeli Occupation in Palestine that is causing both of us, Palestinians and Israelis lots of suffering and wasting lots of lifes. This is a nonviolent attempt where Palestinains march in numbers to the checkpoints raising their voice against the occupation and all its consequences. Without occuaption there will be no need to resist. So, please let us live our life without resistance.

See photos from the march