SW News: The town of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank witnessed thousands of visitors and pilgrims congregating during the weekend to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is for the first time that the Biblical town is witnessing such a surge after the pandemic curbs were lifted.

Reports say that shops, restaurants and other establishments are full, much to the relief of local residents for whom tourism is the backbone of the economy. According to Palestinian Tourism Minister Rula Maayah, “We are celebrating Christmas this year in a very much different way than last year. We're celebrating Christmas with pilgrims coming from all over the world.”

On Saturday, countless visitors strolled through Manger Square in Bethlehem to witness the celebrations. There were bands marching at the square playing popular Christmas numbers. Tourists and pilgrims also thronged the largest Christmas tree in the country to take selfies and pictures.

Greeting pilgrims at Manger Square was His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. He came from Jerusalem via a check post in the barrier that separates Israel from the West Bank. “We are living in very difficult challenges,” he said, hinting at the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the spurt in violence between Israel and Palestine. “But the message of Christmas is a message of peace."

“It's possible to change things,” the top prelate added. "We will be very clear in what we have to do and what we have to say in order to preserve the importance of unity and reconciliation among all.” The patriarch later offered Holy Mass at the Church of the Nativity which is built over the spot where Jesus was born.