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More than 5,000 Christians have left the city during the last few years, primarily for economic reasons, while the so-called Christian countries in the West gave all their money to the P.A., which was like giving it to the mafia, said the Bethlehem Christian.

"I couldn't find one Christian organization in the world [to help the Christians of Bethlehem]," he added.

'Hamas has the money'

Just a mile or so outside Bethlehem is the village of Jenata, where Islamic parties won most of the municipal seats.

Kamal Asakra was one of four Fatah representatives to win a seat in Jenata. The other seven seats of the eleven-member council went to radical Islamic groups Hamas (5) and Islamic Jihad (2).

Jenata, a village of some 3,000 residents, stretches over barren hill and valley. The only green is the occasional olive grove or grape arbor. Children play along the narrow, dusty roads.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad are our friends, Kamal said. We studied at school together and live together, he added.

Kamal, who used to drive a taxi, said he ran in the elections because he wants to work. There are no jobs in Jenata, he said. He has three sons. He said he'd like to have more children, but the financial situation is just too difficult.

He, like many Palestinians, used to make his living at least in part by traveling to Jerusalem.

"We hope everything [will be] good but I think it's too difficult," he said.

Ibrahim Asakra, a distant relative of Kamal's, represented Islamic Jihad and won a seat in the Jenata council. Dressed in a long white robe, beard and turban, Ibrahim said he regards his new position as a great responsibility and sees it as an opportunity to help and serve the people.

He wants to make the roads better, build new classrooms, purchase an ambulance for the town and establish a free medical clinic. He also has plans for an agricultural project and trying to create jobs for the residents, but that would take a lot of money, he said.

"The situation here is very difficult," Alsakra said through a translator. "We want to see all the people very happy, not miserable."

The previous municipality was very weak. People are looking for someone who will give them something, he said. It is Islam that will give life and help to the people, said Ibrahim. Islam is not responsible for the terrorists around the world, he insisted.

(Islamic Jihad along with Hamas has been responsible for some of the deadliest suicide bombing and terror attacks during the last five years.)

Everything depends on the money flow, said Kamal. The P.A. is too weak here, and has no money, said Kamal.

When Kamal campaigned for his municipal seat, the Fatah party paid only for his picture in the campaign brochure, he said. His campaign pledges to the voters -- that he would improve the roads and schools -- were conditional on whether or not "the money comes," he said.

"If the money is coming we want to [build] schools and streets," said Kamal. "The decision is in the hand of Hamas. Hamas has the money."

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