Christians from around the world Monday prayed where tradition holds that Jesus was born, but the subdued Christmas was overshadowed by more violence in the 2-year-old Palestinian uprising.
Israeli soldiers removed barricades and metal detectors from Manger Square after Christmas Eve passed quietly in this town in the occupied West Bank. Many troops also left the plaza during morning Mass.Violent clashes were reported in the Gaza Strip, where soldiers shot and wounded four Palestinians during stone-throwing protests in Jebalya refugee camp, Arab reports said.
Desmond Tutu, the South African Anglican archbishop, worshiped at the Anglican St. George's church in Jerusalem's Arab sector. The 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner has been criticized for repeatedly voicing sympathy with the Palestinians since his arrival in Israel Friday.
Tutu's latest pro-Palestinian remarks came Sunday in a Christmas Eve sermon at Shepherd's Field near Bethlehem, the site where Jesus' birth was announced.
"We pray that Arabs and Jews will know that they are brother and sister, that they belong in one family, that they belong in God's family, that they belong in the human family. We support the struggle of the Palestinian people for nationhood," Tutu said.
"But we say also, dear brothers and sisters, the Jews have a right to their independent state as well," he said.