After several terrible years, the tourism-dependent town of Bethlehem, the West Bank town where Jesus was born, is lit up with Christmas lights for the first time in two years thanks to peace and stability brought by President Donald Trump’s Mideast peace efforts.
Separated from Israel by massive security fences, Bethlehem has long been difficult to visit. The town relies heavily on religious tourism, particularly pilgrimages to the Church of the Nativity, the traditional birthplace of Jesus.
In past years, Bethlehem attracted about 3 million visitors annually, accounting for up to 90% of its income. However, the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the local economy when global travel restrictions and border closures reduced tourists to near zero in 2020 and 2021. Tourism partially recovered to about 1.5 million visitors by September 2023 but then sharply declined following the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023.
Bethlehem’s tourism reportedly dropped to near zero during Christmas season in 2023 and to fewer than 100,000 for all of 2024. This all changed in 2025 due to President Trump’s 20-point plan to end the Israel-Hamas War, which was signed in October of that year.
The historic deal led to the release of all living Israeli hostages held by Hamas and a cease-fire that remains in effect. With widespread support from the Palestinian Authority—a key factor for Bethlehem’s security—the town has seen renewed activity.
A local business owner recently stated, “Tourists finally feel safe to come back.”
As a result, thousands of visitors from across the West Bank and Israel, as well as a few international travelers, have returned to Bethlehem this Christmas season. Public celebrations, including the lighting of a giant tree in Manger Square and singing of Christmas carols, are now taking place for the first time since 2022.
While the current number of tourists remains at only about 20% of 2019 levels and is not expected to fully recover until 2027—assuming peace in the region continues—the town is experiencing a significant resurgence after years of turmoil.
Bethlehem still faces challenges, including the fragile cease-fire in Gaza and recent crackdowns by Israel Defense Forces on terrorist groups in the West Bank. The success of the 20-point peace plan remains uncertain as Hamas resists disarmament efforts.
The U.S. and its Arab allies continue working to protect and advance the peace plan. Despite these concerns, there is hope for peace in the Mideast because of President Trump’s Gaza peace efforts.
