Leila Sansour was just here in Phoenix to show her documentary, Open Bethlehem, to a very receptive audience. She has asked for all friends of Palestine in the US to help promote a film showing on Capitol Hill as described below. All you need to do is invite your congressional representatives to the screening. It’s easy to do just go to: http://www.aaiusa.org/openbethlehem For more background information on Leila Sansour and Open Bethlehem. check out these to posts from We Hold These Truths: 1. https://whtt.org/israel-walling-off-bethlehem-birth-place-jesus/ 2. https://whtt.org/keep-bethlehem-open-help-palestinian-christians-stay/ [Ed.-TEC]

Leila Sansour (l.), director of Open Bethlehem with Dina with the Arizona Palestinian Film & Arts Festival

CAPITOL HILL SCREENING – 12  DECEMBER 2017

Ask your representatives to attend the screening of Open Bethlehem

On December 12th,  ‘Open Bethlehem,’  will be screened on Capitol Hill. Open Bethlehem is a film that aims to bring the story of Bethlehem to millions around the world, including the reality of Bethlehem’s Christian Community and the challenges they face to stay in their hometown.

Open Bethlehem –  Abridged

​If you live in the USA, please urge your senators and your representative to attend the screening on Capitol Hill, and the following discussion featuring a resident of the city, Leila Sansour.
 Support for Bethlehem from faith leaders

​As Presidents of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland we wish to convey our support for the people of Bethlehem and particularly for the aims and work of the Open Bethlehem Project.
​
We view  the barrier being built around Bethlehem as a grave injustice to its people, a serious threat to its economic life and social fabric, and an affront to all Christians.

– Churches Together in Britain and Ireland

The Israeli-built wall is “a sign of all that is wrong in the human heart”,

– The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, upon his visit to Bethlehem in 2006. ​
​

The people of Bethlehem are tonight celebrating the Nativity with joy. But they feel terribly alone. Recently Pope Benedict accepted, on behalf of the Catholic Church, a symbolic Bethlehem passport. He wanted to show that we are all citizens of Bethlehem, and that Bethlehem should be a free and open city. I hope that we can play our part in ensuring that it stay that way

– Extract from cardinal Cormac Murphy- O’Connors speech at midnight Mass at Westminster Cathedral in Christmas 2005

Key facts

  • Bethlehem today has a population of more than 220,000 people, including more than 20,000 living in three refugee camps

​​

  • There are 100,000 Israeli settlers surrounding the town, including within the Israeli-expanded and annexed “Jerusalem municipality”​
  • Settlements breach international law (e.g., Art. 49(6) as stipulated by the Fourth Geneva Convention: “The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies”)

​

  • Bethlehem has now been reduced to less than 13% of its original territory.​

Synopsis 

​‘Open Bethlehem,’ explores life in the city where Jesus was born, and the challenges facing its residents, especially the Christian community whose numbers are in critical decline. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker, Leila Sansour, who has been documenting the events unfolding in her city over the past decade.​The Bethlehem resident and filmmaker has approached this project with one simple request: “Help us open Bethlehem.”
Representatives are being urged to consider the birthplace of Christianity as millions all over the world prepare to celebrate Christmas in the coming weeks.
​

​Download our poster for the Congress event

​Read our press release for the Congress event

A list of screenings in the USA

Want to stay up-to-date with news from Open Bethlehem? Sign up for our emails

​