Abbas attends Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem
93861
BEIJING, Dec. 25 -- Under heavy security, Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Mahmoud Abbas arrived in the holy West Bank city of Bethlehem Friday night to attend Christmas celebrations.
336000
Tens of thousands of Palestinians pledged  support to front-running presidential candidate Mahmoud Abbas  on Friday as he made his first visit to Gaza since the start of  a campaign to succeed Yasser Arafat.
46145
Four UK church leaders are to make a pilgrimage to Bethlehem just before Christmas.
338620
Peace appeals are heard as Palestinian leaders join festivities in the West Bank town of Bethlehem.
712322
An emerging thaw in Israeli-Palestinian relations helped draw several thousand pilgrims to the traditional birthplace of Jesus on Christmas Eve, but crowds were far smaller than during the mid-1990s.
764060
Leading candidate Mahmoud Abbas received a loud and warm welcome in the isolated West Bank town of Jericho in a campaign visit ahead of a Jan. 9 election to replace Yasser Arafat, telling his backers that he will follow Arafat's policies.
731475
Palestinian men light candles in front of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat 's picture in Gaza City November 9, 2004.
405565
Interim Palestinian leader and presidential front-runner Mahmoud Abbas gestures as he speaks during a campaign rally in the West Bank town of Jericho, Tuesday Dec. 28, 2004.
606353
Several thousand pilgrims celebrated Christmas Eve in the traditional birthplace of Jesus on Friday (local time), welcoming the new thaw in Israeli-Palestinian relations and voicing hopes for peace in the Middle East.
27206
In the latest sign that Israeli-Palestinian relations are warming since the death of Yasser Arafat, Israel is allowing free travel into Bethlehem this Christmas Eve.
734526
BETHLEHEM, West Bank -- The floors are polished, a Christmas tree glitters near the bar, and the dining room is ready for hundreds of guests: The luxury Paradise Hotel is open for business for the first time since the latest Palestinian uprising erupted in 2000.
174350
Palestinians lit a four-story Christmas tree in this biblical town Saturday, kicking off a holiday season free of fighting with Israel that officials say will bring the most pilgrims since hostilities broke out seven years ago.
539678
BETHLEHEM, West Bank - Israel freed up travel into Bethlehem on Christmas Eve and handed out candy to Palestinian and foreign pilgrims at roadblocks, the latest signs of warming Israeli-Palestinian relations since the death of Yasser Arafat.
769487
Gloom was banished from Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem for the first time in years on Monday as Christian pilgrims from all over the world flocked here to celebrate Jesus' birth in an atmosphere of renewed tranquility
277310
Gloom was banished from Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem for the first time in years on Monday as Christian pilgrims from all over the world flocked here to celebrate Jesus' birth in an atmosphere of renewed tranquility.
219942
Israel allowed free travel into Bethlehem on Christmas Eve and handed out candy to Palestinians and foreign pilgrims at roadblocks, the latest sign that Israeli-Palestinian relations have warmed since the death of Yasser Arafat.
230311
BETHLEHEM, West Bank  - Bethlehem souvenir store owner Mike Canawati is gearing up for his merriest Christmas in years.