Israel lifted its 28-day blockade of Bethlehem yesterday despite accusations by the Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, that the Palestinian Authority had fomented street demonstrations there during the last few days.
Israeli soldiers shifted red and white barriers yesterday afternoon at an army road-block on the northern edge of the city, which has prevented cars and pedestrians from entering, and Bethlehem's 60,000 residents from leaving, since a twin suicide bombing by Islamic militants killed 14 Israelis in Jerusalem in late July. The general closure of the occupied territories, though, which prevents around 100,000 Palestinians from reaching their jobs in Israel, remains in effect.
Israeli troops have used rubber bullets and tear-gas to disperse stone-throwing youths during the last few days in Bethlehem, and yesterday morning they pushed back a group of about 50 Palestinian legislators and clergyman, who arrived at an army checkpoint and began marching towards the city in protest at the travel ban.
Some Israeli observers speculated that the removal of the blockade could be a sign that President Yasser Arafat has increased security co-operation with Israel - almost non-existent since Mr Netanyahu ordered the start of a contentious Jewish housing project in East Jerusalem in March. But Mr Netanyahu, on a week-long tour of the Far East, yesterday accused Palestinian leaders of "playing with fire" in their efforts to cultivate "so-called spontaneous violence", which he said was an attempt to exert pressure on Israel before the expected visit by the US Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright.
Mr Arafat repeated his allegation that Israel had set up special assassination units to kill Palestinian leaders, and one of his advisers alleged that "Israel's assassination plans" were aimed at torpedoing Ms Albright's visit. Israel justified the Bethlehem travel ban on the ground that it had specific information about several Hamas and Islamic jihad squads operating out of the city.
But the removal of the blockade came in the wake of mounting international criticism, especially from Christian groups angry that pilgrims were being barred from visiting the birthplace of Christ. The Vatican's envoy to Israel complained to the Foreign Ministry when 600 Italian pilgrims were prevented by Israeli soldiers from entering the city on Sunday, and ultimately allowed in after a twohour wait. Yesterday, though, several tourist buses were parked in Manger Square, near the Church of the Nativity.
Peter Hirschberg is a senior writer at the Jerusalem Report