Bethlehem is located in the center of the West Bank approximately 10 km (6.2 miles) south of Jerusalem. It has a population of about 32,000 people. The name “Bethlehem” refers to a city south of Jerusalem called “The House of Eli Lachama”, which the Canaanites believed was the “House of Gods”.
In Arabic the name “Lachama” means the House of Meat, and in the Hebrew and Aramaic languages it means the House of Bread. Bethlehem is considered to be a holy site for Christians as it marks the site where Jesus was born. The Church of the Nativity was erected over this spot, and it is a site of pilgrimage for Christians worldwide.
Because of Bethlehem’s history, it plays an important role in supporting the Palestinian economy through its importance for tourism. Thousands of Christian pilgrims of all denominations fill Manger Square at Christmas time. Besides Christmas time, Bethlehem offers a selection of 30 or more hotels for tourists to choose from, as well as offering numerous restaurants, handi craft and souvenir shops.
Bethlehem is surrounded by three main refugee camps: Aida has a population of almost 5,500; Beit Jibrin (‘Azza) has about 2,150, and Dheisheh Camp’s population nears 13,000 inhabitants.