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Morning News

Tourists Avoid Bethlehem as Violence Continues

Aired December 25, 2000 - 10:34 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: On Christmas morning, Christians around the world are remembering the story of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. At this time of year, the town is usually alive with tourists and the spirit of Christmas. But this year, there is mostly silence in the Manger Square.

We have on the phone with us a hotel owner in Bethlehem. He is Elias Elarga, and he joins us on the phone. And it appears there is plenty of room at his inn and many inns at Bethlehem this year.

Mr. Elarga, good morning. Can you hear us?

ELIAS ELARGA, OWNER OF BETHLEHEM HOTEL: Good evening.

KAGAN: And good evening to you, too, where it is -- where you are in Bethlehem. Can you tell us, sir, first, what it usually is like both at your inn and Bethlehem in general on Christmas day?

ELARGA: It's a good Christmas, just religious people in the church and around, and Mr. President Arafat was there also at the midnight mass.

KAGAN: So it's very, very quiet. I understand there aren't -- most people have not even put out Christmas lights.

ELARGA: No, no. Not also in our hotel, also without too much light. Just a little bit.

KAGAN: And why is it like that this year, sir?

ELARGA: Because we have many people who were killed by the Israelis.

KAGAN: And so it's not a very festive year because of all the violence taking place now.

ELARGA: Yes, because of the violence that's taking the place in our region, especially in Bejallah (ph) and Bethlehem and the whole area.

KAGAN: So usually on Christmas day at your hotel what is it like?

ELARGA: It's full with 100 percent occupancy and with many lights around all the hotel buildings and the Christmas tree, with two or three in each hotel.

KAGAN: And this year?

ELARGA: Nothing.

KAGAN: There's nobody at your hotel.

ELARGA: We have something like five or six individual rooms.

KAGAN: And the people were afraid to come, the tourists were afraid because of the violence?

ELARGA: Yes. They're afraid to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) themselves to be here in the Christmas.

KAGAN: So what have you done with the empty rooms?

ELARGA: The empty room is waiting for the situation to become better.

KAGAN: And is there hope for that, sir? Is there hope for peace in Bethlehem?

ELARGA: Of course. The hope -- always we have hope to be better than what we have now, because the year 2000 (UNINTELLIGIBLE) very good situation in the touring section until the 1st of October. But starting with the violence, we stopped all the hotels -- nobody gets into the Bethlehem area.

KAGAN: Making it a very difficult time indeed. That's Elias Elarga, joining us on the phone from Bethlehem. I want to thank you, sir, for joining us on this Christmas day and wish you much peace in the new year. Thank you very much.

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