US President Barack Obama
will visit the Church of the
Nativity in Bethlehem, where
Christians believe Jesus was
born, when he visits the region
next week, Palestinian sources
said.
The Palestinian
Authority was
officially informed
by US authorities
that Obama would travel to
Bethlehem in the Israeli-
occupied West Bank to visit the
site where Christians believe
Mary gave birth to Jesus in a
stable, the sources said.
Obama begins a three-day visit
to Israel and the Palestinian
territories on March 20, Israel
said on Sunday, in the first
official announcement of the
much-anticipated visit - his first
as president.
He will hold talks with Israeli
officials in Jerusalem and travel
to Ramallah in the West Bank,
seat of the Palestinian Authority,
and Bethlehem on March 21.
On June 29 the UN cultural body
UNESCO overrode Israeli
objections to urgently grant
world heritage status to the
Church of the Nativity.
UNESCO's 13-6 secret vote to add
the Church of the Nativity and its
pilgrimage route to the
prestigious list was received
with a round of rousing
applause and a celebratory fist
pump by the beaming head of
the Palestinian delegation, and
deep disappointment from
Israeli ally Washington.
The US delegation to UNESCO
said at the time that it was
"profoundly disappointed,"
while stressing that "this body
should not be politicised."

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