BETHLEHEM, Dec 24: Worshippers headed to Bethlehem on Wednesday for the traditional Christmas midnight mass with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat once again absent from the festivities.

As the Latin Patriarch of Monsignor Michel Sabbah began his traditional procession from Jerusalem to Jesus Christ’s birthplace, crowds of Christians and Muslims were gathering in Manger Square.

Dozens of Palestinian police officers patrolled the square as local scout troupes rehearsed carols and tourists bought Santa Claus balloons.

Carols in Arabic were also being piped out from loudspeakers in the town where Christians make up less than half of the population.

Israeli authorities have eased travel restrictions to allow worshippers to attend the festivities, with Christians from the Gaza Strip given permission to travel to Bethlehem for the first time since the start of the Palestinian intifada in Sept 2000.

Saliba Fteem, a falafel salesman, was looking forward to playing host to his cousin’s family from Gaza.

“The family is coming by bus from Gaza,” he said. “It is the first time I’ve seen them for four years.”

The economy of Bethlehem, once a hub of tourist activity, has been devastated by the impact of the intifada and subsequent Israeli-imposed travel restrictions.

Bashir Hamda, the owner of a toy shop off Manger Square, said that he had yet to see the benefits of the easing of restrictions.

“We have no business at all. It’s worse than last year,” he said.

“The Israelis say they will let people in but we have not seen anyone. I think it’s all lies but I’m still hoping that they will come today.”

A young mother, who would give her name only as Ruba, said that the town’s economic plight meant there was little money to buy Christmas presents.

“This year is worse than last year. There’s no money to buy gifts, all we can afford is balloons.”

But she said that spirits had at least been lifted by the absence of the Israeli military, which handed over security control to Palestinian authorities in July.

“At least there is no army this year,” she said.—AFP