Here’s yet another AP story from an Arab writer focusing on how bad life is in Bethlehem, attributing the misery to Israel’s “controversial” security fence and international sanctions against Hamas, and completely ignoring the effects of rampant Islamic supremacism and generations of death cult indoctrination: Few foreign pilgrims travel to Bethlehem.

For local residents, the atmosphere was gloomier. Shop owners, who make most of their income during the Christmas season, complained this year was among the worst in memory.

The Palestinian Ministry of Tourism said 3,500 pilgrims arrived in Bethlehem this year — only a small fraction of the tens of thousands who would arrive before Israeli-Palestinian violence broke out in late 2000.

The subdued Christmas adds to the woes of Bethlehem, which already is suffering from international sanctions imposed on the Hamas-led Palestinian government as well as Israel’s separation barrier.

“The economic situation is very much affecting the Christmas atmosphere here,” said Mary Bader, who came to celebrate from Jerusalem.

An interesting bit of unsurprising info emerges in this one; Hamas made a big show of promising money to decorate Manger Square—then welched on the promise.

This Christmas is the first under a Palestinian Authority governed by the militant Islamic group Hamas. To alleviate Christian fears ahead of the holiday, Hamas promised that it would send $50,000 to decorate Manger Square in the center of town for the holiday. It was not clear if the money ever arrived.

Probably needed the money for something more important, like rockets for killing Jews.