![Streets and avenues near the Church of the Nativity are illuminated with Christmas lights in Bethlehem, West Bank on December 11 2016 [Wisam Hashlamoun / Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161211_2_20639350_16890539-scaled.jpg?fit=920%2C606&ssl=1)
![Streets and avenues near the Church of the Nativity are illuminated with Christmas lights in Bethlehem, West Bank on December 11 2016 [Wisam Hashlamoun / Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161211_2_20639350_16890538.jpg?w=522&h=783&ssl=1 "Christmas preparations in Bethlehem")
Streets and avenues near the Church of the Nativity are illuminated with Christmas lights in Bethlehem, West Bank on December 11 2016 [Wisam Hashlamoun / Anadolu Agency]
![Streets and avenues near the Church of the Nativity are illuminated with Christmas lights in Bethlehem, West Bank on December 11 2016 [Wisam Hashlamoun / Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161211_2_20639350_16890539-scaled.jpg?w=390&h=257&ssl=1 "Christmas preparations in Bethlehem")
Streets and avenues near the Church of the Nativity are illuminated with Christmas lights in Bethlehem, West Bank on December 11 2016 [Wisam Hashlamoun / Anadolu Agency]
![Streets and avenues near the Church of the Nativity are illuminated with Christmas lights in Bethlehem, West Bank on December 11 2016 [Wisam Hashlamoun / Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161211_2_20639350_16890540.jpg?w=390&h=262&ssl=1 "Christmas preparations in Bethlehem")
Streets and avenues near the Church of the Nativity are illuminated with Christmas lights in Bethlehem, West Bank on December 11 2016 [Wisam Hashlamoun / Anadolu Agency]
![Streets and avenues near the Church of the Nativity are illuminated with Christmas lights in Bethlehem, West Bank on December 11 2016 [Wisam Hashlamoun / Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161211_2_20639350_16890541.jpg?w=390&h=256&ssl=1 "Christmas preparations in Bethlehem")
Streets and avenues near the Church of the Nativity are illuminated with Christmas lights in Bethlehem, West Bank on December 11 2016 [Wisam Hashlamoun / Anadolu Agency]
![Streets and avenues near the Church of the Nativity are illuminated with Christmas lights in Bethlehem, West Bank on December 11 2016 [Wisam Hashlamoun / Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161211_2_20639350_16890542.jpg?w=280&h=420&ssl=1 "Christmas preparations in Bethlehem")
Streets and avenues near the Church of the Nativity are illuminated with Christmas lights in Bethlehem, West Bank on December 11 2016 [Wisam Hashlamoun / Anadolu Agency]
![Streets and avenues near the Church of the Nativity are illuminated with Christmas lights in Bethlehem, West Bank on December 11 2016 [Wisam Hashlamoun / Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161211_2_20639350_16890543-scaled.jpg?w=632&h=420&ssl=1 "Christmas preparations in Bethlehem")
Streets and avenues near the Church of the Nativity are illuminated with Christmas lights in Bethlehem, West Bank on 11 December 2016 [Wisam Hashlamoun / Anadolu Agency]