Tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists from around the world swept across Bethlehem's streets Monday evening, in anticipation of the Christmas celebrations in town and the mass at the Nativity Church set for midnight.
Many of the visitors are Israeli Arabs, and hundreds are members of the press, in town to cover the festivities.
This year, for the first time since the second intifada broke out, the celebrations seemed to have recovered their traditional grandeur, as the improved security situation kindled optimism and hope among visitors and locals.
Lighting candles at Nativity Church (Photo: AP)
The Palestinians hope that this year's celebrations would help revive the tourism industry in Bethlehem, which has suffered badly since 2000.
The Israeli Tourism Ministry helped facilitate access of tourists into Bethlehem in recent days. Later in the evening, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad are scheduled to arrive in town and attend the holiday events.
Abbas, who will hold a reception for the town's dignitaries prior to the midnight mass, said upon arriving in Bethlehem, "I wish the next year will witness the independence of our people and that we will have Jerusalem as a capital."
Thousands gather in streets (Photo: AP)
Diplomats stationed in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, including the Quartet's envoy to the Middle Eats Tony Blair and US Consul General in Jerusalem Jacob Walles, will also take part in the ceremony.
The celebrations were launched Monday noon with the arrival of Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah n Bethlehem. Palestinian sources reported that movement through IDF roadblocks was generally made smooth and easy.
Another sign for the change in atmosphere this year was the large central stage set up at the heart of town, where ensembles from Europe, the United States and Latin America were expected to perform for the first time since the beginning of the intifada.
An official at the Bethlehem municipal council told Ynet the occupancy rate at the town's hotels for Monday and Tuesday night, as well as New Year's Eve, stood at 100%.
RSS
