The tourism ministers of Israel and the Palestinian Authority met in Jerusalem on Wednesday and signed a joint declaration calling on Christians to visit the holy land during the Christmas season.
It was the first time since the outbreak of Palestinian violence in September 2000 that the tourism ministers have met. Israeli Minister Gideon Ezra and his Palestinian counterpart Mitri Abu ‘Ayta said both sides would work to ensure easy access for Christians traveling between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Difficulty in moving around the post-1967 areas and in particular passing between pre- and post-1967 areas has discouraged countless potential tourists from visiting.
One high-ranking Palestinian official, minister ‘Saib ‘Ariqat, dismissed the meeting as having no political significance.