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The Second Coming: Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian Territories
Via Poland and Gemany
Summer 2008  Palestinian Territories: Bethlehem
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This is the 1910 Jacir Palace, Bethlehem's oldest hotel. Suleiman Jacir, Bethlehem's mayor at that time, built the palace for his family, and they remained there until the 30's.
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was used as a prison during the British mandate of Palestine and later it became a school. It was closed between 2000 and 2005 due to the second intifada.
Today the hotel is managed by the luxury Intercontinental Hotels Group. Click here to go the Jacir Palace website (Information and online booking)
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This is the only Mosque in Bethlehem, the Mosque of Omar ibn al-Khattab on Manger Square, just in front the Church of The Nativity.
According to the legend, after Omar Ibn al-Khattab conquered Jerusalem, he went to Bethlehem in 637 and prayed at the spot where the mosque was built more than a thousand years later.
The mosque was built in 1860, when Bethlehem was part of Jordan, on land donated by the Greek Orthodox Church. |
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There are lots of Souvenir shops in Bethlehem where you can find everything related to the Nativity of Jesus.
Bethlehem is an easy place to visit from Jerusalem, as both cities are side by side. Public transport links aren't great, but taxis wait tourists all the time on the Palestinian side.
As the birthplace of Jesus, it's one of the main destinations for Christians going to the Holy Land.
Even if you're not religious, when you have a Christian background is a place not to be missed.
Moreover, you're sure to please a religious member of your family if you buy a gift here. |
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Tourism is Bethlehem's first industry: it accounts for more or less 65% of the economy and employs directly or indirectly over 25% of the working population.
On the rest of the Palestinian Authority Territories, tourism represents 11% of the economy. |
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Bethlehem is also quite peaceful and doesn't sees many riots, compared to other Palestinian Authority settlements.
That doesn't mean that demonstrations and incidents can't happen and that some violent groups aren't active... take a look to the poster on the right side of the picture beside... |
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Bethlehem is a symbol of christianity, but also of religious tolerance between Christian and Muslim communities, who have coexisted for centuries.
Due to the importance of Bethlehem for the Christian faith, it is required by law that the mayor and a majority of the municipal council are to be be Christian. The remainder of the seats are not restricted to any religion. |
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Bethlehem used to be primarly Christian town but now they're a minority: in 1947, Christians made up 75% of the population, but by 1998 they were only 33%. After the Second Intifada, 10% of the Christian population left the city.
There are two main reasons for this: many locals are emigrating due the political and economic situation and the travel restictions imposed by Israel. Second, the birth rate is lower among Christians that among Muslims. |
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