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| By: Associated Press |
| Published: December 26, 2005 |
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About 30,000 foreigners celebrated Christmas at Jesus' traditional birthplace of Bethlehem, almost double the number who visited the West Bank town last year, an official said Sunday.
The greater number of tourists reflected an improved security situation since fighting between the Israelis and Palestinians has dropped considerably, said a spokesman for an Israeli army office that coordinates activities with the Palestinians, Adam Avidan.
Despite the holiday spirit brought by the pilgrims, Bethlehem awoke Christmas Day to a heavy downpour. Snow had not blanketed the town as weather forecasters had originally said it might.
Heavy rain and occasional hail fell at dawn throughout the Holy Land. Light snow fell in the northern Galilee region of Israel, and on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights up to a meter (three feet) of snow blanketed Mount Hermon heightening hopes that the ski area there would be opened, Israel Radio reported. |
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