Christmas pilgrims voice hope for peace
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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  - 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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Religious harmony is on full display in a year when Christmas and the Muslim holiday of Tabaski fall within days of each other.
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Pope John Paul II shared his fears about Iraq, Sudan and other hot spots and expressed hopes in a Christmas message Saturday that peace-building efforts will bring the world a more tranquil future.
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BETHLEHEM, West Bank  - Thousands of 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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BETHLEHEM, West Bank  - Muslims and Christians united in the hope that the festive season will herald a new dawn after four years of violence, attending midnight mass in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
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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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China's shopping malls in late December leave little doubt that the country has been smitten by Christmas, if not in quite the way devout Christians might hope.
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BETHLEHEM, West Bank  - Hundreds of pilgrims and a  new Palestinian leadership celebrated Christmas in the town of  Jesus's birth on Saturday with new hopes for peace following  Yasser Arafat's death.
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In her Christmas message to Britain and all of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth says tolerance and respect for others is key to building a more peaceful world.
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A limited easing of security tensions raises hopes for a better Christmas.
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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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Palestinians lit a four-story Christmas tree in this biblical town Saturday, kicking off a holiday season free of fighting with Israel that officials say will bring the most pilgrims since hostilities broke out seven years ago.
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Pope John Paul II called for an ``end to the spread of violence&#39;&#39; and for support to ``sustain the efforts to build peace&#39;&#39; in his annual Christmas Day message.
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Pope John Paul II ushered in Christmas today by celebrating Midnight Mass at St. Peter&#39;s Basilica, praying that world leaders will strive for peace and that Jews, Muslims
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Thousands of pilgrims and a new Palestinian leadership are celebrating Christmas in the town of Jesus&#39;s birth with prayers for peace after the death of Yasser Arafat.
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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.