Thousands of tourists, pilgrims and clergy are converging on Bethlehem as the town of Jesus’ birth celebrates Christmas Eve.

Europe’s governments are under pressure today to back their words of support for Barack Obama with action to help the new US President close Guantanamo Bay.

Thousands of tourists and Palestinians began Christmas Eve celebrations in Jesus’ birthplace of Bethlehem tonight.

British prime minister Gordon Brown called for "justice" for the Palestinian people today, condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Christian pilgrims from across the world flocked to Bethlehem to celebrate the birth of Jesus today.

Palestinians hope US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit to Jesus’ traditional birthplace today will not just be a religious experience, but will also bring their daily difficulties of life under Israeli occupation into sharper focus.

About two dozen gunmen today briefly seized Bethlehem’s city hall on Manger Square and near the Church of the Nativity, demanding jobs in the Palestinian security forces.

Gunmen today seized the rooftop of Bethlehem’s city hall near Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity, and pointed their weapons at police below.

The mayor of Jesus’ traditional home town today asked pilgrims to visit in large numbers during Christmas and help pressure Israel to dismantle the barrier that rings the city and cuts it off from Jerusalem.

TWO brothers who survived the worst school bus crash in Irish history yesterday spoke of their despair at the death of their cousin.

Interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Bethlehem under heavy security this evening for Christmas celebrations.

Israeli soldiers sent sweets and Christmas greetings to Palestinians in Bethlehem today, the latest sign that relations between the sides have warmed since the death of Yasser Arafat.

THE Irish-based uncle of a Palestinian suicide bomber who killed 10 people in Jerusalem yesterday will not be allowed travel home to attend his nephew’s funeral.

More than 1,000 people gathered in Bethlehem’s Manger Square today, listening to carols playing through loudspeakers and watching the annual Christmas Eve procession into the church that holds the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

THE Church of the Nativity is largely empty, a few ornaments hang forlornly on trees in a deserted Manger Square and few tourists or pilgrims are to be found in the town where Jesus was born, just days before Christmas.

WITH sirens blaring, Palestinian police yesterday moved into the West Bank town of Bethlehem, the second area handed over by Israel under a US-backed Mideast peace plan.

Palestinian police marched in formation back into the West Bank town of Bethlehem today after Israeli troops pulled out as part of the US-backed road map to peace.

Palestinian police were preparing to move back into the West Bank town of Bethlehem today, the second area Israel is turning over under a Middle East peace plan, following an upbeat summit meeting that boosted hope for an end to 33 months of bloodshed.

AS the Palestinian uprising passed the 1,000-day mark amid unabated bloodshed, hope was emerging that an agreement

An Israeli couple entered the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem today, threatening to blow themselves up, said Father Barnodos, a priest at the church.

I WISH to express my support for Mary Kelly, the peace activist who put a few dents in the US war machine at Shannon.

Saddam Hussein today met a special envoy of Pope John Paul II as part of international efforts to resolve the Iraq crisis peacefully.

An eight-year-old boy was among three Palestinians killed by Israeli forces overnight in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

With Israeli troops in the shadows, the town known as the traditional birthplace of Jesus marked a dreary Christmas Eve – with no light-filled tree in Manger Square, no bells or music, and few pilgrims.

Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem are to restrict Christmas observances to religious ritual this year – the first time since 1994 that Jesus’ traditional birthplace is under Israeli occupation during the holiday.

YASSER ARAFAT told Osama bin Laden yesterdayto stop claiming he was fighting for the Palestinians and dismissed Israeli charges that al-Qaida is active in the Palestinian territories.

ISRAELI troops reoccupied Bethlehem yesterday after 11 bus passengers, including four youngsters, were killed in a Jerusalem suicide bombing.

Israeli troops reoccupied Bethlehem early Friday, searching homes and deploying tanks outside the Church of the Nativity in retaliation for the Jerusalem bus bomb that killed 11, including four youngsters.

Israeli troops have reoccupied Bethlehem after a suicide bomber from the West Bank town blew up a bus in Jerusalem.

REVOLUTIONARY tourist, left-wing crustie, noble-minded philantropist or adrenalin junkie, whatever way you look at it, there’s a certain breed of Irishman making his name abroad.

Two Palestinian militants, exiled as part of the pact that halted the Israeli siege of Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, were expected to arrive here today.

The Israeli embassy has issued a statement ahead of the arrival in Dublin of two Palestinians, involved in the siege of Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity.

Under tight security, Palestinian militants exiled by Israel left Cyprus today on board two European planes for six EU nations that have agreed to offer them temporary asylum.

The Department of Foreign affairs says no deal has yet been agreed by Ireland in relation to the Palestinian militants who were involved in the siege at the Church of the Nativity.

An Irish peace activist, who was arrested by Israeli forces at the end of the siege at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, is due home later today.

Surrounded by black-robed priests, armed guards and journalists, Yasser Arafat today ducked into the candlelit grotto marking the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat today left the West Bank town of Ramallah for the first time since Israel confined him there six months ago.

Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon’s right-wing Likud party has voted to reject the creation of a Palestinian state - a major defeat for Sharon.

The first public mass will be held at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem after a 39-day standoff ended yesterday.

Israeli troops have completed their withdrawal from Bethlehem, several hours after a 39-day standoff at the Church of the Nativity was resolved.

Ten foreign peace activists - who were the last people holding out in the Church of the Nativity - have left under Israeli police escort.

Tourists staying at a Cypriot sea front today found themselves with a dozen unexpected guests - swarthy Palestinians the Israelis regard as senior terrorists.

Security was discreet at Cyprus’ main airport today as the island waited for 13 ‘‘Most wanted’’ Palestinian gunmen deported from Israel.

Palestinian gunmen wanted by Israel emerged from the Church of the Nativity today, marking the end of a tense five-and-a-half week standoff with Israeli troops at one of Christianity’s holiest shrines.