The two sides of Bethlehem

The story of the nativity is central to the Christmas season and each year thousands of people visit Bethlehem to see where Jesus is said to have been born. However, Bethlehem is also home to 25,000 Palestinians who live in the shadow of a separation wall. They cannot move freely, struggle to maintain a livelihood, and cannot return to their ancestral villages.

A section of the separation wall in Bethlehem. Picture: Stephen Farley

Walking through the old town of Bethlehem towards the Church of the Nativity truly does feel like walking through history. 

Daily life goes on, with animated haggling between shoppers and traders, children coming and going from school and the smell of fresh coffee and spices hanging in the air. Walking through the streets I was struck by how many millions of feet have covered this path over the centuries, and how much history the buildings hold in their walls.