Western Asia
25-12-2003, 23:24
Greater Israel News Agency
"Bringing you what you need to know, now."
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<A young female newscaster sits at a desk, reading the news, as the intro music fades>
"The traditional Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem went off spectacularly last night and continued this morning.
"Over 300,000 revellers, tourists and pilgrims crowded around the town and Manger Square. A boys choir lead the processions last night through Manger Square for a midnight concert of holiday songs. The Jerusalem "Philharmonic lent its services for a wonderful concert that was broadcast internationally by satellite connections.
"A midnight service was held in the Church of the Nativity by the Patriarch, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in the province of Israel.
"Bethlehem's Christian population has been growing steadily over the past several decades and it is now a strongly Christian city after a great deal of emigration of Christians before the Unification.
"Elsewhere, the sixth night of Hannukah was celebrated by Western Asia's Jewish majority, with special services being held on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and at a number of other holy sites across the state. These services were attended by millions.
"I wish you the best of holidays, on behalf of everyone here at GINA, and a happy new year."
<The music picks up again as the news break ends and the station returns to old holiday movies>
"Bringing you what you need to know, now."
-----------------------------------------------------------
<A young female newscaster sits at a desk, reading the news, as the intro music fades>
"The traditional Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem went off spectacularly last night and continued this morning.
"Over 300,000 revellers, tourists and pilgrims crowded around the town and Manger Square. A boys choir lead the processions last night through Manger Square for a midnight concert of holiday songs. The Jerusalem "Philharmonic lent its services for a wonderful concert that was broadcast internationally by satellite connections.
"A midnight service was held in the Church of the Nativity by the Patriarch, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in the province of Israel.
"Bethlehem's Christian population has been growing steadily over the past several decades and it is now a strongly Christian city after a great deal of emigration of Christians before the Unification.
"Elsewhere, the sixth night of Hannukah was celebrated by Western Asia's Jewish majority, with special services being held on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and at a number of other holy sites across the state. These services were attended by millions.
"I wish you the best of holidays, on behalf of everyone here at GINA, and a happy new year."
<The music picks up again as the news break ends and the station returns to old holiday movies>