Gary Fitleberg, December 26, 2004

Christmas Eve celebrations in Bethlehem signaled a thaw in Arab-Israeli relations.

Israel allowed Mahmoud Abbas, the likely winner of Jan. 9 presidential elections, to attend; It had banned the late president, Yasser Arafat, from attending in recent years.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon sent greetings, and the number of celebrants was much higher than in recent years. Israel loosened restrictions on travel and handed baskets of candy to pilgrims entering the city. They handed security for the holiday over to Arab "Palestinian" forces.

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2004 Gary Fitleberg