Israel: Christmas pilgrims to have access

JERUSALEM, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- The Israeli army assured Christian pilgrims they will have free access to Jesus' birthplace in Bethlehem during the Christmas holidays.

Israeli Lt. Col. Eyad Sirhan, commander of the military's Civil Administration Bethlehem Coordination and Liaison Office, met with Christian leaders Monday and told them the army would do everything in its power to provide freedom of movement for the more than 65,000 Christians expected to visit the West Bank town on Christmas Eve, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The newspaper said Sirhan met in Jerusalem with priests, archbishops and friars from the Roman Catholic, Coptic, Greek Orthodox, Franciscan, Lutheran, Anglican, Syrian Orthodox, Ethiopian and Armenian Christian sects, some of which date to the Byzantine era.

The commander reportedly said Israeli soldiers have been admonished to treat Christian pilgrims and leaders with respect at security checkpoints.

"The (military) is responsible for security for the processions from Jerusalem until they reach Bethlehem, which is located in Area A," the Post quoted Sirhan as saying. "From that point on the Palestinian Authority will be responsible for security. We are not coordinating with (the Palestinian militant group) Hamas."