Santa Goes To Bethlehem But Israelis Quarantine Christmas Tree, Refuse To Allow In Lights

Santa Claus made it to Bethlehem in time for Christmas, but a Christmas tree also donated by Finland will spend the holiday sitting in an Israeli warehouse.

Ibrahim Kandaleft, Yasser Arafat’s advisor on Christian affairs, accused Israel of playing the Grinch by refusing to release the tree.

“They’re trying in every way possible to ruin Christmas in Bethlehem because Bethlehem is under Palestinian control,” he said Sunday. A spokesman for Israel’s Agriculture Ministry said any tree brought into the country had to be quarantined for a month.

Meanwhile, Santa Claus made the best of it Sunday, singing Christmas carols and throwing candy to mobs of children in Bethlehem’s Manger Square, the birthplace of Jesus.

“I wish and hope for more peace, understanding and love and more humanity for everyone,” said Kari Rantila, a headmaster in Finland when he isn’t playing St. Nick.

With their tree stuck in limbo, the Finnish embassy instead decorated a skinny cedar growing in Manger Square. On Sunday, the tree was officially lit by Finnish and Palestinian officials.

Bobby Brown, advisor on Christan affairs to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Netanyahu had only learned about the tree controversy on Friday and would try his best to get it out before Christmas.

“We don’t want to be the Grinch that stole Christmas,” Brown said.

But Rony Smolar, a Finnish sponsor of the tree, said it was too late. “We already put up the decorations on this one,” he said.

Jamal Sallman, a Bethlehem official, said that in past years, Israel also has stopped Christmas trees donated by the Netherlands and Norway from reaching Bethlehem.

“We do not allow categorically to import into Israel any kind of pine tree unless it goes into quarantine of one month,” said Naftali Yaniv, an Agriculture Ministry official.