WRAP Preps ahead of Christmas Eve events ADDS more, Gaza crossing

(24 Dec 2008) Bethlehem, West Bank 1. Wide of Manger Square 2. Palestinian policeman pushing barrier 3. Policeman checking under car with mirror 4. Fire truck in Square 5. Christmas lights 6. Man cleaning street 7. Mayor of Bethlehem Victor Batarseh talking to policeman 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Victor Batarseh, Mayor of Bethlehem: "In this lovely morning in Bethlehem, the city where Jesus Christ was born, today will be Christmas Eve. We are now doing our preparations to receive His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem coming in a big procession at about 3 p.m. I hope that today the message of peace that Bethlehem always sends to all the world will prevail actually over the world, and will have peace not only this Christmas, but for the coming years." Bethlehem, West Bank 9. Zoom out from church to square with youth march taking place Bethlehem, West Bank 10. Various of youths in marching band Bethlehem, West Bank 11. Reverse shot of youth marching with baton 12. Various of march 13. Pan right of people entering church through small doorway 14. Santa Claus in square 15. Mid shot of security 16. Close up of gun, traffic passing by 17. Various of security monitoring traffic Karni Crossing, northern Gaza 18. Wide of closed Karni Crossing 19. Various of empty crossing STORYLINE: Preparations were underway in Bethlehem on Wednesday, as the annual throng of Christian pilgrims were expected to visit Jesus' birthplace to celebrate Christmas. After eight bleak years, the West Bank town finally has a Christmas season to cheer about. Hotels are booked solidly through January, the central Manger Square is bustling with tourists, and Israeli and Palestinian forces are working to make things go smoothly. Bethlehem's economic fortunes are closely tied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Tourism blossomed in the 1990s when hopes peace were alive, but were crushed by fighting in 2000. Christmas after Christmas, tourists have been scared off by violence and travel restrictions. Early on Wednesday the Mayor of Bethlehem, Victor Batarseh, walked around the town centre checking every last detail; the cleaning, the security and the decorations. Hundreds of Palestinian policemen have been deployed across the town. Bethlehem is being turned into a showcase for Palestinian security forces, who have been gradually expanding areas under their control in the once unruly West Bank. Bethlehem is a typical West Bank town, with congested streets and noisy markets, very different from the biblical idyll visitors might imagine. The city is surrounded on three sides by a barrier which Israel says is meant to keep out Palestinian militants. A large gray wall separates the city from nearby Jerusalem, and tourists entering Bethlehem must pass through a military checkpoint with barbed wire and watchtowers. Israeli security officials say they are working with their Palestinian counterparts to ensure easy access to Bethlehem. Late last month, at a meeting of Palestinian military chiefs to discuss Christmas preparations, the Palestinians asked Israel to speed tourists through its army checkpoints and not carry out arrest raids in Bethlehem during the holidays, security officials said. Meanwhile, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip bombarded southern Israel with mortars and rockets on Wednesday, burdening diplomatic efforts to revive a truce that expired over the weekend. Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza, said it came in retaliation for the deaths of three of its fighters who clashed with Israeli troops late on Tuesday. No injuries were reported. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...