Bethlehem

Bethlehem has been under the authority of five different nations in the past 100 years. After WW I control of Bethlehem passed from the Ottomans to the British. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War the city came under Jordanian rule. In the 1967 Six-Day War it was captured by Israel. Today Bethlehem is administered by the Palestinian Authority. This was a result of the 1995 Oslo Accords.

I remember entering Bethlehem on three different occasions. Twice we took a taxi and were dropped off at the entrance where we had to show our passports and enter from the Israeli side into the Palestinian side. Once through security we then had to catch another taxi on the Palestinian side to take us to Manger Square.

The third time we were on a bus tour as part of the Handbell Festival to Israel. Buses had a different entrance to the town. At the security checkpoint our guide or bus driver just had to show the appropriate papers indicating the nationality of the passengers on board and then the bus was allowed to drive us into the town.

Travelling as a group on a bus tour is much easier but travelling with 2 or 3 friends on your own is more adventurous. Having a guide who can speak the language is also easier than just smiling and pointing to make yourself understood. No matter where you travel, people are generally happy to welcome you to their home and if you try to say hello or thank you in their language they will smile and help you out. Often their English is much better than my attempt at speaking their language. But they are delighted that you are willing to try.

Learn more about my travels to many places around the world in my Travelling Tuesdays book. Comment below if you want to find out how to grab your own copy.

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