Christmas Pilgrims in Bethlehem Voice Hope
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Indian Christians on a peace pilgrimage hold candles during Christmas festivities at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Friday, Dec. 24, 2004.
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Several thousand pilgrims celebrated Christmas Eve in the traditional birthplace of Jesus on Friday, welcoming the new thaw in Israeli-Palestinian relations and voicing hopes for peace in the Middle East.
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Four years of violence, an economic free fall and the rapidly rising Israeli separation barrier have all contributed to the hardships facing Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem, one of the largest concentrations of Christians in the region.
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25 December 2004 -- Hundreds of millions of Christians are celebrating Christmas today. Many of those are turning their. thoughts to a small Palestinian West Bank town where many people believe Jesus Christ was born 2,004 years ago.
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Here is the official English translation of Pope John Paul&#39;s &quot;Urbi et Orbi&quot; (to the city and the world) Christmas message on Saturday.
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Encouraged by renewed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, Christian pilgrims from around the world converged on Jesus' traditional birthplace Monday to celebrate Christmas Â a palpable contrast to the sparse crowds of recent years.
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BEIJING, Dec. 25 -- Under heavy security, Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Mahmoud Abbas arrived in the holy West Bank city of Bethlehem Friday night to attend Christmas celebrations.
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Pope John Paul II ushered in Christmas on Friday by celebrating midnight Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, praying that world leaders will strive for peace and that Jews, Muslims and Christians will live harmoniously in the Holy Land.
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BETHLEHEM, West Bank  - Despairing of life under Israeli occupation, many Palestinian Christians are moving abroad, threatening their ancient links to Bethlehem and the land where Jesus was born.
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Pope John Paul II led prayers for peace and a more tranquil future, pilgrims flocked to Bethlehem and Iraqis stayed away from church for fear of bomb attacks as Christians around the world celebrated Christmas over the weekend.
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Christians in Bethlehem, considered to be Jesus&#39; birthplace, pleaded for help in a radio report Wednesday, September 29, as Israeli soldiers pounded alleged militant positions killing at least six Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
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Hundreds of millions people around the world celebrated on Saturday the birth of Jesus Christ as appeals rang out from Jesus&#39; birthplace in Bethlehem to the Vatican for peace in the Middle East.
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Pope John Paul II offered Christmas wishes Saturday for a world where he said timid but hopeful efforts at peace coexist with worries over over Iraq, the Holy Land and several tragic conflicts in Africa.
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These days, Bethlehem's hospitals aren't just for the sick. They're becoming havens from Israel too.
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BETHLEHEM, West Bank  - Pilgrims and a new  Palestinian leadership celebrated Christmas in the town of  Jesus's birth with prayers for peace on Saturday, lifted by  fresh hope following Yasser Arafat's death.
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DHANFHIPARA, India - Dozens of rebels in battle fatigues sang Christmas carols in a bamboo church in India's restive northeast on Saturday as two of their leaders returned for Christmas after 20 years of self-exile.
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Interim Palestinian leader and presidential candidate Mahmoud Abbas reads the order of service during the Christmas midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem Saturday Dec. 25, 2004.