BETHLEHEM, December 24, 2008 (WAFA)- The new Latin Patriarch of the Holy Land arrived, Wednesday, in Bethlehem, on the annual Christmas procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.

Latin Patriarch of the Holy Land Fuad Twal's motorcade left his headquarters in the Old City of Jerusalem and set out slowly on the 8.5-kilometre journey south to Bethlehem's Manger Square.

Twal, a 68-year-old Jordanian who this year succeeded retired 75-year-old Palestinian Michel Sabah, is to lead Midnight Mass at Bethlehem's early medieval Church of the Nativity, built on the site of the stable where Jesus was born.

Thousands of Palestinians, pilgrims and tourists, gathered in the Manger Square to receive him, and to watch the scout bands who marched along with the motorcade in an annual tradition to celebrate Christmas.

Bethlehem, which has celebrated the tourist one-million few months ago, is witnessing the largest influx of foreign tourists in eight years

Twal was accompanied by President Mahmoud Abbas, Minister of Local Governance Ziad Bandak, Minister of Tourism Khuloud De'eibes, Bethlehem Governor Salah Al-Ta'amari, Bethlehem Mayor Victor Batarseh and Chief of Bethlehem Police Department, Abdul-Majeed Burqan.

On her side, The Palestinian Minister of Tourism Khuloud De'eibes told WAFA that tourism in Bethlehem this year witnessed a great progress compared to the last eight years. she stated, 'Bethlehem has celebrated the tourist one-million this year, and we hope to celebrate the tourist two-million in Christmas 2009.'

De'eibes pointed out the huge difficulty which the situation reached in the Holy Land, saying that the progress made in the field of tourism does not mean that obstacles are over. She explained, 'Occupation is still present, the Israeli Apartheid wall is still present, a lot of obstacles are still present, but we try our best to overcome all of them.'

Although Christmas spirit is in the air, the celebrating Palestinians do not seem so happy after all. One elderly lady said that Christmas this year is sad in Bethlehem, there are not as many people as there used to be. When asked why, she replied, 'people are not so happy, they are tired of difficult circumstances and of the daily suffering they go through, but we hope that next year will bring us joy, peace and justice.' We deserve life, she added.

A 6-year-old child, who wants to grow up to be a nurse to help children shot by 'soldiers', said she is very happy in Christmas, and that she will pray for peace and joy, and 'for other children to be as happy as she is,' yet, she seemed to hesitate when she said, 'I wish a merry Christmas for all Palestinian children whose parents do not have money to buy them clothes and presents.'