Christmas In Bethlehem Draws Crowds To Holy Land To Celebrate Birth Of Jesus (PHOTOS)

Thousands of Christian pilgrims from around the world packed the West Bank town of Bethlehem for Christmas Eve celebrations on Tuesday bringing warm holiday cheer to the biblical birthplace of Jesus on a cool clear night. The heavy turnout its highest in years helped lift spirits in Bethlehem as leaders expressed hope that the coming year would finally bring the Palestinians an independent state of their own.