• Christian tourists visit the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem on Saturday. The city where Christians believe Jesus was born is teeming with tourists — but the Christmas spirit is dampened by complaints that Israeli tour operators don't allow the city to truly benefit from the influx. | AFP-JIJI
    Christian tourists visit the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem on Saturday. The city where Christians believe Jesus was born is teeming with tourists — but the Christmas spirit is dampened by complaints that Israeli tour operators don't allow the city to truly benefit from the influx. | AFP-JIJI

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JERUSALEM – Christians in the Gaza Strip will be allowed to visit holy cities such as Bethlehem and Jerusalem at Christmas, Israel authorities said on Sunday, reversing a decision not to issue them permits.

Israel tightly restricts movements out of the Gaza Strip, territory controlled by Hamas, an Islamist group that it considers a terrorist organization.

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