Bethlehem – support for Hizbollah growing among Christians and Muslims alike

Militant's death unites Bethlehem
Stalled peace process fuels support for Hizbollah
Toni O'Loughlin in Bethlehem The Observer, Sunday March 16 2008

Outside Betlehem's Nativity Church, Christians yesterday queued not to celebrate the birth they believe happened here but to mourn a death - that of a Palestinian militant with close links to neighbouring Lebanon's Islamic militia, Hizbollah.

killings have fuelled support for Hizbollah's leader among Christians and Muslims alike.

School principals, teachers and students from the Bethlehem School, the Catholic School and the Greek Orthodox School paraded to the mourning tent outside the church chanting and waving placards praising the Palestinian 'martyr'.

Shehadeh crusade against corruption in the Palestinian Authority and Fatah won Christian support.
Shehadeh was the leader of Islamic Jihad, aligned with Hizbollah.

'The reason he was popular was because he presented a symbol of those individuals who were engaging in resistance'

Senior British diplomatic sources have expressed similar views privately over the past week.

On Friday, 40,000 to 50,000 mourners attended the funerals.