Israeli Guides Return to Palestinian Bethlehem

Last year when I toured Israel with their Ministry of Tourism, I didn't get to see Bethlehem. Why? Because it's in Palestinian territory.

But a press release out of Israel today announced that Israeli tour guides and travel operators returned to Bethlehem last week as part of a new project by the Israel Ministry of Tourism and tourism authorities in the Palestinian Authority.

The initiative is a result of a joint request by travel guides, tourists, travel agencies and operators that Israeli tour guides be permitted to accompany travelers to religious and touristic sites during their visit to Bethlehem in the Palestinian Authority.

Nice to see some progress, huh?