Bethlehem starts preparing for Christmas celebrations

Palestinian police erected barriers in Bethlehem's Manger Square Saturday morning as the city prepared for Christmas evening celebrations. Groups from the Palestinian Scout Association opened the celebration by marching through a barricaded section of Manger Square.

Bethlehem hosts thousands of foreign tourists and pilgrims who come to visit the city's holy sites including the Church of the Nativity, built at the exact site where many believe Jesus was born. Before the pandemic, Bethlehem would host thousands of Christian pilgrims from around the world, bringing a strong dose of holiday spirit to the town.