A Lutheran-run initiative in Beit Jala has been obstructed by Israeli troops who prevented participants from reaching one of the event sites yesterday morning

There may not be much fun and yuletide merriment this Christmas, as Father Christmas may not make it over the Separation Wall. A new Christmas Card produced by the charity the Amos Trust, features Father Christmas walking along the barrier.

A new Scottish carol tells how a huge barrier constructed by Israel in Palestinian territory divides races and religions, stopping ordinary people getting to the place where the founder of Christianity was born 2000 years ago.

A UK based Christian charity has launched a new version of the Christmas nativity scene including the Israeli Separation Wall.

Salaam Bethlehem is touring in the UK throughout the season of Advent with performances until 22 December 2007. This is the story of a production which highlights the situation of a famous city and today's Palestinian Christians and Muslims.

Doing justice to the Palestinian people will bring about security for Israel too, a global church conference has heard. There were appeals to end the illegal occupation of Palestinian land and to combat anti-Semitism too.

The secretary-general of the United Nations yesterday toured a Palestinian refugee camp and spoke of the "very sad and tragic" results of the controversial security wall erected by Israel.

The Mayor of Bethlehem has declared the town of Jesus' birth an 'open city' and launched its own passport.