Palestinian craftsman makes Advent-themed souvenirs for Christmas — in pictures

The workshop is located in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem

A Palestinian craftsman prepares Advent-themed souvenir figurines ahead of Christmas at a workshop in the biblical city of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank on December 13, 2022. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)

Business in Bethlehem is recovering from a two-year coronavirus-induced slowdown, lifting spirits before the start of the Christmas holiday

Christmas is normally peak season for tourism in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus

Before the onset of the pandemic, thousands of pilgrims and tourists from around the world came to celebrate in the West Bank town

Tourist numbers plummeted during the pandemic but the recent rise in the number of people visiting the town is an encouraging sign

Since the Palestinians don’t have their own airport, most international visitors come via Israel, which is expecting about 120,000 Christian tourists during the Christmas week

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