European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 13, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 12 a the stars and stripes sunday december 13,1992prisoner Deal might Light up Bethlehem Bethlehem occupied West Bank apr mayor Elias Freij is ready to Cut a Deal Over Christmas. He a willing to decorate Bethlehem with Holiday lights if Israel releases 1,000 palestinian prisoners. Christmas in Bethlehem in the West Bank occupied by Israel has As much to do with politics As religion. For the past five years palestinians have forbidden All rights and pageantry from the celebrations saying it was inconsistent with their revolt against israeli occupation. Tourism in the town of 50,000 arabs which once billed itself As the a Christmas capital of the world a hit the skids. But now with israeli Arab peace talks under Way in Washington and even the underground leadership of the uprising calling for three Christmas shopping Days tourists and Holiday trappings arc returning. The tourism ministry predicts some 25,000 pilgrims will visit the town for Christmas up from 16,500 last year. Business is twice As Good As last year for Ibrahim Giacaman who Sells Olive Wood carvings in a shop on Manger Square outside the Church of the nativity that christians believe Marks the place where Jesus was born. Michel Kreitem manager of the 54-room Star hotel said he expects a full House for Christmas. Last year half his rooms were empty. A this year its much better a he said. A israelis and palestinians Are talking about peace and this makes people think about coming to  palestinian activists appear to be casing up a bit. Last year they called a commercial strike for Christmas. This year they permitted three Long shopping Days and sent Holiday wishes to a your Christian sons in an underground leaflet. Israel also is seeking a return to traditional festivities in part to boost tourism. The jewish state has again invited choirs to sing on Manger Square and has offered to stamp cards sent via Bethlehem with a special Holiday postmark. But Freij a greek orthodox palestinian who has been mayor for two decades is willing to go Only so far. He said he might Arranna More festive Christmas if the israelis make a a Goodwill gesture a such As freeing Arab prisoners before the Holiday. A it All depends on israeli gestures a he said in an interview. He refuses to hold the traditional mayors reception but said a fall other options Are on the  maj. Elise Khazar spokeswoman for israelis military government in the West Bank said she did no to know of any planned gestures. On one recent morning in Manger Square a Soldier sitting in a watchtower kept his gun trained on passers by below. The Square has frequently been the site of clashes Between palestinians and israeli troops. The routine of pilgrims going in and out of the Church was interrupted briefly when soldiers found a suspicious package nearby. The Square was cleared for a few minutes but no explosives were found. Homeless Santo finds he s Well suited for Job new York a he sleeps in a men s shelter or in a doorway in Rockefeller Center. He begs outside the metropolitan museum of Art. He Shiv positive an sex convict a recovering drug addict a just another homeless Man. And every december without fail Joseph  Reyes pulls on a red suit and Black boots attaches a woolly White Beard and transforms into one of the City a sidewalk santas. He a one of Many homeless men who collect donations for charities during the Christmas season. The monthlong identity switch allows the men a Chance to break free from their usual seemingly hopeless lifestyle. A it just comes once a year and its a Chance to go out and mingle with people who might not normally talk to you a said Reyes 61. Quot you get to understand yourself better  the homeless men make Good santas sail Dottie Watkins spokeswoman for the volunteers of America. A these Are people whose families and friends have withdrawn from them a Watkins said. Quot they be had hard times. They understand humanity better than most psychologists. This is the one time they get to help those who Are even less fortunate than  when he a not dressed As Santa Reyes usually wears a to shirt and jeans. He has a Tattoo on his Arm in memory of a Girlfriend who overdosed on heroin. He a seeking his own Christmas Miracle this year Contact with his Long lost brother and sister before he Dies. To work for the volunteers of America sidewalk Santa program a you must have the spirit love and dreams to play Santa a Reyes said. A my dream is to see my brother and sister one Day. That a my  for 83 years sidewalk santas have been visible All Over the City collecting Money in artificial Brick chimneys. Re  makes $35 per Day plus bonuses based on How Many donations he gets in his Chimney. A a in a Here to help other people get Back on their feet As much As me a he said. A a it a not just me taking its me giving  since he was 17, Reyes has struggled with drug addiction. He said he quit main lining spec balls a a sometimes lethal combination of heroin or morphine and cocaine a and All other drugs in 1989. Reyes said he lost his parents to tuberculosis when he was 6. And in 1966, after one of his Many arrests he lost track of his sister Bernadette and brother John. Joseph  Reyes holds his cat fuzzy and a picture of his 8-Ycar-Oid daughter in a room at Camp la Guardia a homeless shelter in Orange county . Reyes works As a sidewalk Santa during the Holiday season. He believes they Are somewhere in new York City where Tiey grew up. Reyes said he has done time in Attica sing sing and other prisons and made the most of it. Reyes has a a adopted an elderly Man at Camp la Guardia the shelter where he often lives in upstate new York. He said he takes care of the Man sometimes travelling to Manhattan to get him Medicine. A to appreciate you must reciprocate a Reyes said. A the does things for me from the heart so now i take care of  Puppy asks a Little for herself a and her master dear Santa because i am a Puppy my daddy had to write this letter for me. I have been a Good girl this year except Lor the times i chewed on the furniture and did things on the carpet. I Promise i will try harder to behave myself. For Christmas i would like a Steak a Rawhide Bone and a Little sister to play with. Have a merry Christmas love Cory Sieg Augsburg Germany . My daddy says he would like his promotion to h-6 for Christmas dear Santa Claus i air having my Grandfather write this letter for me As i am Only 3 years old. Santa Claus i have been an extra Good girl. Before i used to get up Many times a night so my Mommy told me if i did not sleep All night Long that you would not come to see me at Christmas. So the last few weeks i sleep All night Long. Now i am a very Good girl. I do Hope you will bring me some toys to play with. Please kiss mrs. Claus and say i Tor me. I will have some milk and cookies for you when you come to our Home. I love you Santa Claus Joan Ann Menk dear Santa Claus. For Christmas i would like a go go dog Little i i Turs # to std miss Mermaid a potty doll Susy the Barbie and lots More stuff. But i done to want to write too much. But anyway to continue i would like a Dinosaur baby from to a Barbie car a Ken for my Susy Barbie Little miss Muffet set and a Boom Box. I would want More but i  want to Wear you out of buying All that stuff for me. Well that is All for now a Bye. A love Sonia Vidro third Grade Kitzinger elem. Tihor letters written to Santa include Kody Laughner Benjamin Knoblock Little Joe Rodriguez Amy Davis Derek Martinson Lance Martinson Derek Jaworski Rebecca manols James manaois Jett Jones Jeremy Kofsky David Primus Sarah Huff Diane Harshbarger Katie Karambelas Colby Sieminski Shanke Drall stalling Ray Matthew Fricke John Bertran Travis Ernst Sarah Vanhorn Anthony Chai Erica Lynn Shircel Brian Montgomery Kyle Martinson Meghan Davis Victoria Jaworski Christopher manaois Brittany Lannings Dominic Ulish Henton a Clark e. Ware Iii Michelle Walker Andrew Niemann Jessica Merrell Shanah Holland Deion stalling Jessica Melissa Crawford Christina Bertran Kyle Ernst Jennifer Vanhorn Matthew Chai Keith Gloria Waters Cory Martinson Laura Davis Keisha Dodd David Mitchell manaois Bona Jones Stephanie Kofsky Philina Henton t Ashlynn Koston Tori Ashworth Robert Smith Sean Roberto Jasmin Robby Chad Ashworth Lee Skeen Eric Solmonson Lance Shaughnessy Mary Tatta s second Grade class Gaeta Italy Jeff Murashige Katherine Hartling Hiott Smallwood Antonio Bennett Adam Aufderheide Csandl Valdez Chad Payne Joseph Barrett Brandy Watts Patrick Kane Angela Wilson Stephen Gunggoll d Harvey s kindergarten class  Allison Villa Giancarlo Garibaldi Tony Brenner Jessica Pabon Faviell Garibaldi Sanuel Mohler Jeffery Lopez Kevin Menk Matthew Laughner Chad Scott Jacob Aufderheide Michelle Fancher Randi Bell Stevie Sanders Gregory Holmes or. Juan Carlos Acosta Mike Knock Rochelle Watts Tom Dargan Richie Anastas Scott Lowe James Ford Ricky Raj aka Michael Balbuena Veronica Green Branden Valdez italia Inman Michael Smallwood Olivia Nevitt Ryan Perez will Burris