Fireworks burst overhead -- and below, crowds gather in a West Bank village near Bethlehem.They're congregating after Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad lit a 32-foot Christmas tree.Snare drums crack, trumpets blare, and bagpipes hum -- all to ring in the holiday season in Jesus' birthplace.And above, the giant tree looms, a glowing star at its peak.Bethlehem has seen a steady increase of tourism in recent years -- about two million people have visited since 2008.The Israeli Tourism Ministry expects the arrival of around 90 thousand tourists from abroad over the Christmas period alone.if(window.location.pathname.indexOf("656089") != -1){console.log("hedva connatix");document.getElementsByClassName("divConnatix")[0].style.display ="none";}
