Christian Palestinians flocked to Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity to pray at the traditional birthplace of Jesus on the first Sunday since the end of the Israeli siege at one of Christianity’s holiest sites.
Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, envoy of Pope John Paul and the Latin Patriarch of the Holy Land Michel Sabbah, led hundreds of Catholics from Bethlehem and surrounding towns in prayers, urging Israelis and Palestinians to work for peace.
Cardinal Etchegaray called for peace through justice and dialogue and not through violence.
Eight Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli soldiers who besieged the fourth-century Byzantine church after some 200 Palestinians - militants, policemen and civilians - took refuge to escape the invading Israeli army.
The Israeli army lifted the church siege and left Bethlehem after the Palestinian Authority agreed that 13 of the fighters in the shrine who were wanted by Israel would go into exile abroad. Twenty-six other Palestinian militants were sent to Gaza.
A Palestinian flag fluttered above the church and Manger Square was decorated with placards denouncing Israeli occupation.
Many worshippers were emotional as they inspected the church interior, which had been turned into an untidy barracks during the siege.
Clergymen from the Franciscan, Greek Orthodox and Armenian denominations that share custody of the church came together to sweep the shrine clean of food scraps and other rubbish.