A spokesman for Christian churches in the Holy Land on Wednesday accused Israel of discriminating against Christian tourists during the normally busy Christmas holiday season.
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Israel last month closed its borders to foreign tourists in response to the outbreak of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
But this week, Israeli officials decided to make an exception for Taglit-Birthright Israel, a popular program that provides free trips to Israel to young Jews from around the world. Groups from the United States are expected to arrive next week, with participants all fully vaccinated and remaining in small "capsules."
For now, restrictions remain in effect for other foreign tourists, including Christian pilgrims who traditionally have flocked to sites like Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem, the biblical town in the West Bank revered by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus.
Wadie Abunassar, a spokesman and adviser to churches in the Holy Land, said various denominations were upset over the selective treatment. He accused Israel of discriminating against Christian pilgrims.
"Racist discrimination should never be accepted in any way!" he wrote on Facebook. "I urge the Israeli authorities to treat all those who want to visit the country equally without any discrimination between religion[s]."
An official with the Catholic Church said church officials were shocked and angered by the Israeli government's decision. He said the church, along with other denominations, had appealed to the Tourism Ministry to allow Christian pilgrims to come for the holiday.
According to the Interior Ministry, which oversees entrance policies at the country's borders, the policy not to allow foreigners into Israel remains in place.
Ministry officials, however, noted a number of exceptions had been made, including a "specific" decision pertaining to the Birthright program. They said officials would discuss other possible exemptions in the near future but gave no further details.
The travel ban has crushed Israel's tourism industry, and officials in Bethlehem, where the economy relies heavily on Christmas visitors, say the restrictions have ruined the holiday season for a second straight year.
The Adelson family, which donates to Taglit-Birthright Israel, owns the company that is the primary shareholder in Israel Hayom.
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