With Israel closed to tourists and its citizens restricted from travelling abroad, the mainly Arab city of Nazareth, normally a magnet for Christian pilgrims, has been thronged with Jewish visitors.
“It’s not the Christmas that we hoped for, but still, the atmosphere is great, many Jewish Israelis are coming, many locals are coming,” said Nazareth tour guide Aziz Banna, 41.
As the highly transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant spreads globally, Israel has banned travel to more than 50 countries.
Major foreign destinations including the US, UK and France are on the no-fly list, which has led Israelis in the run-up to Christmas
With Israel closed to tourists and its citizens restricted from traveling abroad, the mainly Arab city of Nazareth, normally a magnet for Christian pilgrims, has been thronged with Jewish visitors.
Visitors head to the northern city, a place with important Christian history, as an alternative to traveling outside the country in the face of coronavirus restrictions
With Israel closed to tourists and its citizens restricted from travelling abroad, the mainly Arab city of Nazareth, normally a magnet for Christian pilgrims, has been thronged with Jewish visitors.
Some Jewish tourists say they feel as if they are visiting abroad, with local vendors complaining such tourists don't stay long enough; despite surge in virus cases, a spirit of celebration sounds through the city, with church bells ringing aloud