European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 22, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 8 the stars and stripes tuesday december 22,1987 Bethlehem mayor cancels non religious celebrations world today Bethlehem. Occupied Wisl Bank a mayor Elias Freij monday cancelled All non religious Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem As a protest against the israeli occupation and a wave of violence in the occupied territories. He also said violence had already reduced the num Ber of tourists coming to Bethlehem this year for Christmas celebrations. Freij. A Christian announced the cancellations As shopkeepers in the town where Jesus was born observed a general strike to protest the violence in which at least 15 palestinians were killed in 14 straight Days of violence. I have decided to do this to express my anger and dissatisfaction a he i Freij said of the cancellations. Official Christmas functions in Bethlehem which had been scheduled to begin thursday include an an Nual reception attended by israeli officials that symbolizes Arab jewish coexistence. Freij said he would cancel the reception and also the traditional boy scout parades that arc a Staple of the celebrations. Freij said it was the first time since 1967 that festivities had been curtailed. We have to show Solidarity with our people. We cannot have a cocktail party Dur ing such a tense situation he said. The new testament gives Bethlehem As the site of Jesus birth. Thousands of pilgrims come to visit holy Sites in Bethlehem each year. Freij earlier said he was under pressure to cancel thenon religious celebrations. He did not say who was exerting pressure but Christian youth groups and Lead ers issued a statement recently urging that Christmas celebrations be limited to prayer services. We Are calling for christians this year to Pray for peace in the Region and not waste Lime with useless festivities said gris Khoury a religion professor at Vatican sponsored Bethlehem University who joined in the Appeal. Freij said the violence had already seriously affected tourism. During a Normal Christmas season 50,000 tourists come to Bethlehem visiting holy Sites such As the historic Church of the nativity on Manger Square. We be had very few visitors so far this year Freij said. Obviously the violence is having a serious in he blamed israeli authorities the troops Are so Notino at women and children. If they think we Are going to accept this with red roses they Are business people in Bethlehem said they were deeply concerned Over the drop in tourism and the financial losses they might suffer. Look at the streets How empty they Are said Hader Ali owner of the Al Altai restaurant just off Manger Square. And look at my restaurant How empty this is too. I can t stand it. I m going off on vacation this town lives for Christmas financially said Socrates Canavati owner of a gift shop in town. There has been Little violence in Bethlehem itself since oct. 29, when the army closed the University for three months after a violent student protest in which a student was killed by israeli gunfire. Israel took the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan during the 1967 Middle East War when it also seized the Gaza strip from Egypt. Christine has poem for Santa hoho to merry Christmas it s Only three Days away and Santa is very Busy. He s checking his list not once but twice so be Good he has received Many letters from Many people asking for a lot of different things. Christine Isabel Loco of Zorn Cim Germany sent this poem what i want for Christmas i Don t want a Bunch of plastic toys i just want to see Nice Christmas Trees perhaps a Little present or two and a couple of sweeties. All those kids who want Zap its and guns and the such they Don t understand Christmas they arc out of touch. So Santa listen to what i say no porsche clarinets or a like thing just me and my Paddy and Mommy lots of love happiness and a song to sing. These children have written to Santa also the a a mrs Register i class Mam l Pellicano class mrs Navidomskis class Stacio Mitcel Mugan Joyce Joe Simmons Kilgor Amanda Alwill Jennie Verne Shannon Glynn in gite Porter Andy Sawka Alyssa Hoo Carrie Mcneilus Gaillyn Glyn the Brem Praven child care is Dora Mil tic class the children of Pir Masens is Resch s class Kyle Joyce Nikisha Youn Bethany hider Derrick Duncan Jason Pandley Nikita Elliott Shalalah Richardson Christopher j Minyerd Kathryn Beryer Veronica Olivies Nik a Nelso Brian Manors Amanda Wells Olivia hat Lynn Tony gorualt1/ Matthew Nuotio Jimmy Gari Aroche be Rodrigue Corey Savage misty Thompson Thomas Zei Ersh Emeka Jimpson Angelina Taylor Wilson Marcus Gladden Scott Yoe Stevie c Coulter Richard Dunston ii Konsten Fitzsimmon Angela shape Tony Tatua Lynn Ramos Terry Thomas Derek Del Rosarto Kelly and Matthew Rickie Gabriel Brad Pierce Travis Conrad Matthew Donnel Tom Freeman Rebecca Kim Mellisa Febus Nichole aah Tord Joshua Custer Nichole Reese la Tosha Tisby Burke Anjie Patterson Ryan Hinkl Michelle Abraham Brian Slot Bridge it e Davis Christopher Turner Richie Lewis rom Hinkle these children have in Tor cause he does not have their find them on Christmas eve Cindy Holan Lenny Gro Star Gregory Moxco Dunck Dieguez Desiree Tonkin Cassandra Derrick sgt. Dawn Woodard Adnan Badilla Evica Shoon Lantanya Matt Carmark Skulas John Vaman Tammy Wilson Manno Jacob or la oui Chea Lyons Jason Richert Stephanie Brown Eric Tyler Daniel Mahrs Benjamin hone Christopher Tiebor Aletsia Gallant Lelani Tala Revonda White Louis Renn Angola Schultz Rigante Clarks Tifton Studyway doute Gabriel James Hayes 111ken Donnell Tawsha Stevens Bonanne Kimme Matthew Crammer Kelly Daughe Yeddie Stephenson Verssa Carrasco Lianne now Kadam Turner Rogina Hinkle Maha rho Aubrey Oliver. Or Grant Davis David Jaime Nicholas a Petty Jay baiter to Santa also but he cannot write Back be a Allig addresses but he does know where to Anthony Savceda Kelly Foxwor Dieguez Betalma Dieguez Jamaica Parker Steven Lightfoot Banny Valencia Amelia Cruz Ben Bobby Hoskins iraqi Diplomat shot in Athens Athens Greece a an iraqi Diplomat attached to the Arab league Mission in Athens was shot in the Chest monday As he drove through a suburb near his nation s embassy police said. A spokesman for Athens Security police chief Marinis Lambropoulos identified the Diplomat As Midhat Nouri Al Hiya i 46, who was serving As economic counsellor at the Mission. The spokesman who demanded anonymity said Aman standing on the sidewalk pumped at least six bullets through the Windshield of Al Hiya i s car and then ran off. He said Al Hiya i was hit in the Chest but managed to keep on driving until he reached the iraqi embassy 400 Yards away. The shooting for which there was no immediate claim of responsibility occurred at 9 30 . In the psychic suburb the police spokesman said. Al Hiya i was taken to the general state Hospital where doctors said he was in serious but stable condition. One Bullet passed through the shoulder and into the lung. We be stopped the bleeding but Haven t extracted the Bullet surgeon Constantinos Charonis told the associated press. Al Hiya i has been posted in Athens since 1983, the greek foreign ministry said. Several Arab diplomats and palestinian liberation organization officials have been shot in Athens. But monday s attempt was the first against an Arab league representative Here according to police. Presidential Jet Purchase is cancelled by Mexico Mexico City up mexican president Miguel do la Madrid has cancelled the Purchase of a $40 million Jet because of Mexico s economic crisis his office to the economic crisis affecting mexi co s National Economy and the budget cuts or dered by the government As part of the economic Solidarity pact the president decided to cancel the Jet Purchase a presidential press statement sleek aircraft a Boeing 757, was outfitted and modified along the lines of president Rea Gan s air Force one jetliner by an american aircraft customizing company. Buying Vodka hazardous Ovist pops re ports Moscow up the soviet Media have warned repeatedly about the dangers of excessive Vodka drinking but now it appears that waiting in lir to buy Vodka can also be Hazar Dout to one s health even Sove Skaya Bel Orussia newspaper reported that a Man was crushed to death while waiting in line to buy Vodka in the Village of Zher Denoye North of the ukrainian capital of Kiev. The newspaper gave no further details about the incident last month the newspaper soviet Connie printed a Survey that showed the average line i front of a soviet Vodka shop Long. Was 300 people one shop on Moscow s Chelnitsky Street near the Headquarters of the Kab held the dubious distinction of having the longest line i the soviet Union. Survey takers found More than 1,000 people in the Quique. East Germany cuts hike in defense budget Berlin a communist East Germany s ruling Congress has Cut the country s defense budget increase by More than 50 percent for next year and voted to abolish capital Congress voted to increase spending by 3.4 percent for next year Down from the 8 per cent in defense spending increases approved in recent death penalty was also formally abolished for All crimes. East Germany is the first East bloc country to do away with the death penalty in All in East Germany have not imposed the death penalty since the Early 1980s. Polish police prevent pro Solidarity March Warsaw Poland a about 1,000 peo ple attempted to stage a pro Solidarity March in the Baltic port City of Gdynia but were prevented by police an opposition activist said Mon protesters were emerging from a sunday evening mass at the Redemptor Church and tried to March behind two banners Reading 891 Darity Gdynia and federation of fighting youth said activist Bogdan mass was to Mark the anniversary of the dec. 13, 1981, imposition of martial Law in Poland. Which resulted in the Banning of Solidarity the East bloc s first legally Independent Trade Union. French language edition of rolling Stone planned Paris up a French language edition of rolling Stone the Premier . Rock music mag Azine will appear on Newsstands across France As of Jan. 13, bounced. Its Paris publishers have an pendulum the publisher of the planned monthly French language version said around 60 percent of its editorial Content will consist of articles translated from the twice monthly . Stone in French will sell for 30 francs about $5.50, with an initial press run of 180,000 copies aimed at a sophisticated Urban readership Between the Ages of 30 and 40
