BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) – The town where the Bible says Jesus was born has staged its first-ever Christmas parade. Hundreds of people thronged the streets of Bethlehem Monday evening to see floats depicting Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth, the birth of Jesus, the shepherds and the wise men. Other floats featured modern Christmas characters like Santa Claus on his sleigh. Palestinian sponsors hope the parade will become an annual event in Bethlehem’s lead-up to Christmas, along with the lighting of a giant Christmas tree in front of the Church of the Nativity and folk concerts. This year, Christmas in the Holy Land comes amid renewed violence. A total of 19 Israelis and an American seminary student have been killed by Palestinian attacks in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Israel, mostly by stabbing, while at least 113 Palestinians have been killed, including 76 who Israel says were attackers.
