Christmas Worship in Bethlehem Draws Large Crowds As Israelis Foil Saboteurs

Some 4,000 worshipers, including more than 100 American servicemen on leave from posts in Europe, attended an overflow midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem last night, or watched it on cinema-size television screens on Manger Square outside the church. In all, the first Christmas celebration in Bethlehem under Israeli occupation went off smoothly, and drew large numbers of pilgrims despite warnings from terrorist organizations to stay away.

One act of sabotage marred the occasion. A transmission line was blown up, cutting radio and telephone communications between Bethlehem and Jerusalem. But the damage was repaired in less than an hour, and service was restored.

The absence of any other incidents was attributed in large measure to precautions taken by Israeli authorities, More than 1,000 Israeli policemen stood guard along the four-mile road between Jerusalem and Bethlehem yesterday when the traditional procession of pilgrims, led by the Latin Patriarch, Msgr. Alberto Gori, began shortly after noon. Automobiles were banned from Bethlehem for the day, but special buses were provided by Israeli authorities to carry pilgrim to and from the town. Steps were also taken to exclude all but Christians in order to avoid a crush of tourists and other curiosity seekers which might have overtaxed Bethlehem’s limited facilities.

The high mass drew the Consuls of Roman Catholic countries, a sprinkling of Americans and other tourists from abroad, and Arabs from the West Bank who apparently ignored exhortations on the Amman radio not to attend services in areas under Israel control. A majority of Israel’s Arabs, and those of the West Bank, belong to the Eastern Orthodox and Armenian churches, which do not celebrate Christmas until next month.