THE LATIN PATRIARCH OF THE HOLY LAND MICHEL SABBAH MAKES A BLESSING
WITH HOLY WATER IN FRONT OF THE NATIVITY CHURCH IN THE WEST BANK TOWN
OF BETHLEHEM.


The Latin Patriarch of the Holy Land Michel Sabbah makes a blessing
with holy water in front of the Nativity Church in the West Bank town
of Bethlehem at the start of the Christmas celebration December 24,
2001. Israel set a condition on Monday for lifting a ban on Yasser
Arafat's annual pilgrimage to Bethlehem, in the first sign it might
ease up on a Christmas Eve showdown with the Palestinian leader.
REUTERS/Reinhard Krause