Christmas Begins In Mideast, Europe
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With the lighting of a candle for peace in his window, Pope John Paul began Christmas holiday celebrations that posed a new test for his frail health not long after visitors celebrated in Bethlehem.
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Shopkeepers in Europe's biggest economy have a grin on their faces _ and not only because Santa is coming to town.Comment
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The occupied city of Bethlehem in the West Bank has been witnessing an atmosphere overwhelmed by sadness while celebrating Christmas because of the continued Israeli occupation, the besiege and building the wall of separation.
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An emerging thaw in Israeli-Palestinian relations helped draw several thousand pilgrims to the traditional birthplace of Jesus on Christmas Eve, but crowds were far smaller than during the mid-1990s.
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Several thousand pilgrims celebrated Christmas Eve in the traditional birthplace of Jesus on Friday (local time), welcoming the new thaw in Israeli-Palestinian relations and voicing hopes for peace in the Middle East.
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BETHLEHEM, West Bank Israel is passing out candy as it allows people to freely travel into Bethlehem this Christmas Eve. Officials say they expect some five thousand people today and tomorrow to visit the town where Jesus was born.
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BETHLEHEM, West Bank  - Pilgrims gathered in Bethlehem on Monday for a Christmas mass promoted by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Western powers as a chance to highlight the benefits of peacemaking.
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Thousands of pilgrims and a new Palestinian leadership celebrated Christmas in the town of Jesus&#39;s birth yesterday with prayers for peace after the death of Yasser Arafat.
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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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(Undated) Dec. 25, 2004 - As the world celebrates Christmas, there is new hope for peace abroad despite ever-present tensions. The crowds are larger than in recent years at Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ.
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With thousands of American troops and civilians in the Middle East, it's time to begin thinking about sending Christmas mail.
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Pope John Paul told the world in  his Christmas message on Saturday that people everywhere were  yearning for peace and expressed particular concern for Iraq,  the Middle East and Africa.
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Mellow chiming at the bell-towers of the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Dormition and Assumption of Virgin Mary, the main Catholic church in Ukraine, announced to the arrival of Christmas to hundreds of ...
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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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People tore open presents and enjoyed Christmas feasts with their families across the globe on Saturday. Christians in Indonesia packed tightly guarded churches despite fears of terrorist attacks.
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Israel allowed free travel into Bethlehem on Christmas Eve and handed out candy to Palestinians and foreign pilgrims at roadblocks, the latest sign that Israeli-Palestinian relations have warmed since the death of Yasser Arafat.
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In the latest sign that Israeli-Palestinian relations are warming since the death of Yasser Arafat, Israel is allowing free travel into Bethlehem this Christmas Eve.