The Palestinian Authority on Christmas Eve expelled Israeli journalists who came to the historic Biblical town of Bethlehem to cover Christmas celebrations.
According to the PA Ministry of Information, the action was taken at the request of Palestinian journalists who protested the presence of Israeli journalists at Manger Square in the West Bank town.
Omar Nazzal, a senior representative of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, said the expulsion was justified due to "restrictions" imposed by Israel on Palestinian journalists, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Palestinian journalists earlier this year launched a campaign to ban Israeli reporters from entering PA-controlled territories in the West Bank. In one incident, Palestinian activists physically attacked an Israeli TV crew in Ramallah, according to the Post.
PA Deputy Minister of Information Mahmoud Khalifa said Israel was imposing restrictions on the work of Palestinian and international journalists in the West Bank.
"Israel does not honor international laws and conventions calling for the protection of journalists," he charged. "Israeli reporters have become accustomed to entering the State of Palestine without permission."
On Christmas, thousands of pilgrims from around the world converged on the ancient Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem to visit the grotto where tradition says Jesus was born.
According to NPR, the U.S. Agency for International Development this holiday season donated nearly $400,000 to aid Christmas celebrations at Manger Square.
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