Christmas is around the corner. Soon Christians from all over the world will start to decorate the Christmas tree and the grotto of Bethlehem.

This year I call on you, please to make it a special message insisting on Justice to the Palestinians, calling the Israeli to terminate the Occupation after 32 years of refusal to implement the UN Resolutions 242 and 338 and the right of return to the Palestinians.

FOR THIS I SUGGEST FOR THE 2000 CHRISTMAS TREE

1) To be decorated with stars, bells, candles, Christmas scene in different colors with a clear message on each of them: Examples: Justice for Palestinians; Israeli Occupation of Palestine should finish; Israel implement the UN Resolutions and withdraw from the Palestinian Occupied Territories.... (Use your imagination)

2) To put on the tree some paper balls in different colors that symbolize stones. On the stones write the names of the Children you have been killed in Palestine on one side and a prayer on the other side (you may ask your children to write the prayers). Get the names of the killed in Palestine from www.Addameer.org
You may like also decorate the walls and the floor of your Christmas grotto with these kind of stones or walls. Remember also to put a barrel and write on it Muhammad Al-Durra praying for the 12 years old Palestinian who have been innocently killed.

3) On the Tree also you can put some small ambulances, with the names of the wounded or killed, put also symbols of missiles, tanks, Helicopters, Military jeeps and write on them: Israel stop killing the People of Palestine; Palestinians have a dignity, give them back their dignity (or any other message, use your imagination)

4) Put on the Top of the Xmas tree a large star with a message: Example GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST AND PEACE FOR THE HOLY LAND (or any other thing)

5) If you do your Xmas Tree or grotto at the outside of your house, try to work some banners that speak to the Public Opinion, and call for justice, Peace and TRUTH.

6) Try to work a Grotto that speak about the situation in the Holy Land. You may use beside of the Xmas animals, ambulances, tanks, missiles, helicopters, military jeeps, stones, barrels,  people, stones on one side and on the other side the NEW BORN BABY calling for justice, truth, dignity, peace and the end of occupation

7) Let Santa Claus or Baby Jesus (Or the BEFANA in Italy) this year give toys of peace, with a message (work stickers that you put on the toys, that educate on the need of justice for the Palestinians). NO PROVOCATIVE MESSAGES, WE SHOULD NOT BE ANTI-ISRAELI OR ANTI-JEWISH, WE SHOULD BE PRO-JUSTICE, PRO-TRUTH AND PRO-PEACE. If your children insist to get a toy that symbolizes a weapon, please put on it a sticker message: Stop killing  the children of Palestine

8) Let Santa Claus distribute socks of candies and others with a message on them. A message that speak to the Public Opinion.

9) When people visits your home tell them about the different messages that you put on your Xmas Tree and ask them to write a prayer that you will put on your tree.

1) TRY TO WORK AND SEND A CHRISTMAS THAT SPEAK ABOUT JUSTICE, PEACE AND TRUTH ON THE SITUATION OF THE HOLY LAND. SEND A XMAS CARD TO YOUR GOVERNMENT OR REPRESENTATIVE URGING THEM TO WORK FOR JUSTICE AND TERMINATE THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION OF PALESTINE

Dear Friends:
You may start to work things right away with your children, at your school or your church and prepare all the materials needed to make from this XMAS TREE 2000 a message of JUSTICE, PEACE AND TRUTH for the Land of Jesus Christ.

You may also work some Xmas special sticker to put them on your car, windows, doors, shops and public places.

If you do that you help us this year to EDUCATE the PUBLIC OPINION and move it to work for a comprehensive Justice and dignity for the Palestinians.

Please share your ideas and find them on www.Al-Bushra.org under UPDATE. And on www.Bethlehem.org.

I hope that I motivated a lot of you to work things immediately and make from this Christmas a special one for the LAND OF BETHLEHEM. Visit www.Bethlehem.org

Merry Xmas 2000 and PEACE ON EARTH at The Holy Land

Fr. Labib Kobti

Some more ideas:

1) You may like, in stead of giving presents to your children and friends or part of the Christmas presents and surprises....you may like to send a contribution a Palestinian Hospital or School or an idea for development.

2) You may like to work Christmas Cards that have a message about justice for Palestinians, seel them and send the money to hospitals, schools or needy people in Palestine