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Bethlehem (Aramaic for House of Laham, the Canaanitic God of Sustenance) area is decked in colors and the best and most beautiful lights are the smiles on the faces of our children. On Saturday evening, we attended a Christian service that was a joint service with the National Cathedral in Washington DC. The Palestinian children bell choir was uplifting. Children led the lighting of the candles at churches, the singing, and the choirs and they outnumbered adults in most activities. We were blessed by visited homes of poor children of different faiths. On Monday 3500 members of marching bands/scouts (most youth under 18) led parades near the apartheid wall separating Jerusalem from Bethlehem towards the Nativity square. Some of the marching youth were Muslims. The marching band from Gaza (Christian and Muslim) was not allowed to participate by the Israeli occupation authorities. Earlier in the day, children in the square formed a large peace symbol and the words “LOVE ALL” with their bodies in front of the massive Christmas tree in the square. The United Nations Work and Relief Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) had banners asking people to remember the suffering children in Gaza and Syria.
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Above text written by Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD
Desertpeace 
wiggins said,
December 25, 2012 at 16:19
God Bless all people of Peace. Right will win out in the end.
Blake said,
December 25, 2012 at 19:32
Thanks for the origins of Bethlehem I have seen enough of the zio hasbara agents calling it a Hebrew word to last a lifetime.
Greg Thomas said,
December 25, 2012 at 21:03
It seems the circle is almost complete. Peace.
Imad Shuayb said,
December 26, 2012 at 02:59
Where does it say that Laham was a Canaanite God? I couldn’t find it anywhere.