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Members of the Open Bethlehem Campaign |
Open
Bethlehem’s launch in
November 2005 was a response to the state of emergency imposed by the
Israeli-built wall which cuts deep into the heart of the city, taking most of its
agriculture land, confiscating heritage landmarks and creating a prison-like
environment for
Bethlehem’s citizens.
The current situation has led to the collapse of the tourist economy, the
city’s main industry, and provoked an unprecedented wave of emigration, particularly
among the city’s Christians. Within a generation, the Christian community of
Bethlehem
may become unsustainable. This has global implications for the hopes of a
secure, open and democratic
Middle East of all its
peoples.
Some of our successes:
The Open Bethlehem Launch
The Bethlehem Passport.
The Open Bethlehem Fact-finding Tours
The Future
Open Bethlehem … at the heart of Bethlehem
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