we are on a hillside over looking what was a little town when jesus was born there. bethlehem is under palestinian control because of the violence of the last few years visitors are staying away even at christmas. in all of the holy land heal bethlehem is considered one of the hole list places by christians jews and muslims. jews come here to pray at rachel s tomb judaism s third holiest site. rachel was the beloved wife of jacob the third patriarch she died in child birth. muslims also reveer bethlehem. they believe the prophet mohammed stopped here escorted by gabriel on a visit the birth place of jesus.