![Johnny Hilal, a Bethlehem-area artisan creates crosses and other Christian items out of mother-of-pearl. With no pilgrims coming to Bethlehem, he must rely on sales to customers abroad. He is one of 35 members of the Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative, which assists local artisans. Since the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, Adi Bannourah has been forced to close one of his two olivewood factory workshops in the Bethlehem area due to lack of business. He is planning to close the other in the coming days. Johnny Hilal, a Bethlehem-area artisan creates crosses and other Christian items out of mother-of-pearl. With no pilgrims coming to Bethlehem, he must rely on sales to customers abroad. He is one of 35 members of the Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative, which assists local artisans. Since the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, Adi Bannourah has been forced to close one of his two olivewood factory workshops in the Bethlehem area due to lack of business. He is planning to close the other in the coming days.](https://publisher-ncreg.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pb-ncregister/swp/hv9hms/media/20240716130740_b69f092d0e6cbacd00bcfb59fafc6c2359572c15975c80f18ab63733044f8c4d.png)
‘We Cannot Do This Alone’: Christian Artists in the Holy Land Rely on Internet Sales to Survive Amid War
Since Oct. 7, tourist visits have dwindled, forcing shop owners to find creative ways to continue business.
Since Oct. 7, tourist visits have dwindled, forcing shop owners to find creative ways to continue business.
The unceasing bombardment of rockets and armed drones has affected all aspects of daily life in the region.
Currently stranded in Jerusalem and prevented from returning to Gaza by Israel, Father Gabriel Romanelli discusses the plight of his congregation with the Register. He wants to be home, especially for Easter.
They warn that the Islamist group that launched the Oct. 7 terror attacks is a deadly danger to anyone who doesn’t share its fundamentalist Muslim beliefs.
For the Christians of Gaza, Christmas will be very, very quiet, but more meaningful than ever...
Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party is poised to return to power, supported by other even more right-wing parties.
Palestinian Catholic Shireen Abu Akleh, a veteran TV reporter for Al Jazeera, was killed May 11 by an as yet unknown shooter.
Only relatively small numbers have arrived so far compared to pre-pandemic numbers, but their presence provides cautious optimism for the tourist-dependent local Christian community.
In the restoration of the ancient stone church there is still important work to be done.
The state-of-the-art complex, named in honor of Cardinal John Foley, was dedicated last month and will open in the coming weeks.
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