Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Major-General Eitan Dangot and Civil Administration Head Brigadier-General Yoav Mordechai met with the heads of the Christian churches ahead of Christmas.
The religious patriarchs, including the Franciscan Abbot, the Custos of the Holy Land, the Vatican's ambassador, and the Greek-Orthodox, Latin and Armenian patriarchs, were briefed on the defense establishment's preparations ahead of the holiday.
Earlier, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi authorized a series of mitigations, allowing some 300 Christian pilgrims to leave Gaza Strip.
Christmas is expected to see some 20,000 people attend midnight mass in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity plaza. Some 70,000 pilgrims are expected to visit the city during the coming month.
Deputy DCO Commander Captain Eyal Zeevi told Ynet that the military has held a series of meetings with church heads, international groups and Palestinian security forces over the past few weeks ahead of the holiday. Meetings were also held with Jerusalem and police officials.
Zeevi noted that "the crossings leading to Bethlehem will be open throughout the holidays and additional forces will be deployed in order to facilitate visitors."
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