It's one of the
cities most deeply affected by the security
wall --and was
the topic of conversation between the Pope and PM Olmert yesterday:
Bethlehem Mayor Victor Batarseh told a press conference Dec. 11 that a serious drop in Christian tourism to his town, emigration and Israel's erection of a security fence cutting many Bethlehem residents off from jobs in nearby Jerusalem were having a disastrous impact on Bethlehem and its residents.
After speaking with the Pope,
The prime minister promised to do everything possible to alleviate" the community's suffering and to ease Christians' access to Bethlehem over the Christmas holidays, the ambassador said.
Olmert also renewed his invitation for the Pope to visit Israel.
the pope said he really wanted to make such a trip, but was looking for "a moment of calm."
PM's response:
You can bring the calm.
