Gaza's Christians cross into West Bank as Santa protest hits Bethlehem

(23 Dec 2014) With two days to go before Christmas, Palestinian protesters dressed as Santa Claus clashed with Israeli forces on Tuesday in Bethlehem - the birthplace of Jesus according to Christian tradition. Wearing traditional red suits, white beards and Palestinian kefiyahs, the protesters marched towards a checkpoint connecting Bethlehem to Jerusalem. Waving Palestinian flags, the Santa Claus-clad protesters chanted anti-occupation slogans in front of Israeli troops, who responded by firing tear gas. Bethlehem is surrounded by a string of Israeli settlements, with Israel's West Bank separation barrier in the background. Israel says the barrier is a defence against militants, while Palestinians say it's an excuse for another Israeli land grab. Meanwhile, members of Gaza's small Christian community were allowed to leave the Gaza Strip for the second day in a row on Tuesday to take part in Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem. Christians are a small minority in Gaza among 1.7 (m) million Muslims. The Israeli military said it granted a total of 700 permits for Gazans to travel to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan. Israel generally relaxes travelling restrictions for Christians during the holiday season. 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...