And now a message from the Palestinian Authority: walk in the footsteps of Jesus, enjoy some hummus and stuffed grape leaves, and please, please, please spend the night. If you squint, you might not see the watchtowers, barbed wire and rifle-toting Israeli soldiers. The Palestinian government is making a push to attract tourists to Bethlehem, Jericho, Hebron and other historic religious sites — going so far as to call Jesus "the first Palestinian". While tourism to Israel has steadily increased in recent years, Palestinian-controlled lands — which include many of the major Biblical sites — have seen scant benefit as Israel maintains a tight military grip over the West Bank. Sure, there’s an annual rush to Bethlehem at Christmas, but most visitors come on day trips to check out Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity, spending little time or cash. Archaeological jewels such as the Khirbet Bal’ama water tunnel near Jenin and the Sebastia Roman colonnade outside Nablus get scarce ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.