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| Mixed emotions for Pope in Bethlehem | Mixed emotions for Pope in Bethlehem |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Expectations are high for the Pope's visit to Aida refugee camp By Tim Franks BBC News, Bethlehem | Expectations are high for the Pope's visit to Aida refugee camp By Tim Franks BBC News, Bethlehem |
| Jonny Rahil is watching the Pope saying prayers on his television. | Jonny Rahil is watching the Pope saying prayers on his television. |
| Jonny, who turned 70 three days ago, was given two invitations to go to see Pope Benedict XVI, but the prospect of the heat and the bright sunlight put him off. | Jonny, who turned 70 three days ago, was given two invitations to go to see Pope Benedict XVI, but the prospect of the heat and the bright sunlight put him off. |
| He and his family have lived in Bethlehem for 60 years, during which time he says the numbers of Christians have "enormously decreased". | He and his family have lived in Bethlehem for 60 years, during which time he says the numbers of Christians have "enormously decreased". |
| They don't want the Pope to be seen close to the wall with the world's journalists here Saleem AmarnaBuilding contractor | They don't want the Pope to be seen close to the wall with the world's journalists here Saleem AmarnaBuilding contractor |
| He says conditions are difficult for everyone in the West Bank because of the Israeli partition walls. | He says conditions are difficult for everyone in the West Bank because of the Israeli partition walls. |
| He says the walls are hindering commerce, stopping people travelling to the holy places in Jerusalem and stopping relatives from visiting. | He says the walls are hindering commerce, stopping people travelling to the holy places in Jerusalem and stopping relatives from visiting. |
| Israel says the system of barriers it is building around the West Bank, sometimes cutting deep into occupied territory, is a security measure, although Palestinians call it a land grab. | Israel says the system of barriers it is building around the West Bank, sometimes cutting deep into occupied territory, is a security measure, although Palestinians call it a land grab. |
| Jonny says the exodus has affected members of the Christian population in particular. He says they have left in greater numbers than Muslims because they are "learned people". | Jonny says the exodus has affected members of the Christian population in particular. He says they have left in greater numbers than Muslims because they are "learned people". |
| PALESTINIAN CHRISTIANS Palestinian territories 50,000-83,000 Christians make up 1.2 - 2.2% of population2,000 in Gaza (pop 1.5m) Israel 150,000 Christians make up 2.1% of population (120,000 Arab, others mainly Russian immigrants) Palestinian Diaspora Half a million Christians, estimated at 6% of total Decline in Israel/Palestinian territories: Difficult to track, but 1940s estimates put Christian pop at 7-9% of population of British mandate PalestineReasons for decline: Low birth rates, emigration due to conflict, economic issues and living as "minority within a minority" Sources: Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics; Bethlehem Univ; World Christian Database | |
| "Here they don't have the opportunity to engage the posts they deserve," he says. | "Here they don't have the opportunity to engage the posts they deserve," he says. |
| "They have to leave the country to make a decent living and have a decent life." | "They have to leave the country to make a decent living and have a decent life." |
| Privately, some Christians in Bethlehem say another factor sometimes motivates their decision to leave - concern about the rise of radical Islam - but they are unwilling to put such views on the record. | Privately, some Christians in Bethlehem say another factor sometimes motivates their decision to leave - concern about the rise of radical Islam - but they are unwilling to put such views on the record. |
| Jonny says that a quarter of his family now live outside the West Bank - in Canada, Jordan and the Gulf states. | Jonny says that a quarter of his family now live outside the West Bank - in Canada, Jordan and the Gulf states. |
| "It's very tragic. Three days ago it was my birthday. I very much wished all the members of my family could share in the day," he says. | "It's very tragic. Three days ago it was my birthday. I very much wished all the members of my family could share in the day," he says. |
| "We live in a very difficult situation." | "We live in a very difficult situation." |
| Concrete barrier | Concrete barrier |
| A 20-minute walk away from Jonny Rahil's shop is the Aida refugee camp, where the Pope is due to put in an appearance after celebrating Mass in Manger Square. | A 20-minute walk away from Jonny Rahil's shop is the Aida refugee camp, where the Pope is due to put in an appearance after celebrating Mass in Manger Square. |
| A stage for the Pope right next to the Israeli wall was rejected by the Israelis | A stage for the Pope right next to the Israeli wall was rejected by the Israelis |
| Saleem Amarna is helping to string a sign across the road saying: "Welcome Pope to Aida camp." | Saleem Amarna is helping to string a sign across the road saying: "Welcome Pope to Aida camp." |
| Saleem is the main contractor for what had been planned as the stage for the Pope - right next to the separation barrier surrounding one side of the camp with a nine-metre concrete wall. | Saleem is the main contractor for what had been planned as the stage for the Pope - right next to the separation barrier surrounding one side of the camp with a nine-metre concrete wall. |
| He and his colleagues were told weeks ago by the Israeli authorities that they would not be able to use that stage. | He and his colleagues were told weeks ago by the Israeli authorities that they would not be able to use that stage. |
| A smaller stage has been erected for the Pope just across the street in a school instead. | A smaller stage has been erected for the Pope just across the street in a school instead. |
| Despite this, Saleem says the stage next to the concrete wall was finished last night. | Despite this, Saleem says the stage next to the concrete wall was finished last night. |
| He said it was important to carry on building because: "This is such a great event, the size of the stage was more important than any order from the [Israeli] administration. | He said it was important to carry on building because: "This is such a great event, the size of the stage was more important than any order from the [Israeli] administration. |
| "They don't want the Pope to be seen close to the wall with the world's journalists here because this would be a disastrous thing for Israel." | "They don't want the Pope to be seen close to the wall with the world's journalists here because this would be a disastrous thing for Israel." |
| And will the Pope's visit make any difference? Is a Palestinian state any closer now? | And will the Pope's visit make any difference? Is a Palestinian state any closer now? |
| Back in his clothes shop, Jonny Rahil laughs. | Back in his clothes shop, Jonny Rahil laughs. |
| "Always I hope one day peace will come, to live in our state side by side with Israelis," the 70-year-old says. "Let's meet again in 50 years." | "Always I hope one day peace will come, to live in our state side by side with Israelis," the 70-year-old says. "Let's meet again in 50 years." |