Alaa from Beit Jala was surprised like many other Palestinian Christians this week when their local church leaders acquired three-month travel permits that will allow them to visit Jerusalem and Israel, and even stay overnight if they choose to. The permits, however, were not given to all Palestinian Christians.
"As part of the easings given to the Palestinian Christian population for Easter, approximately 21,000 permits were issued," the Israeli army's coordinator office told Al-Monitor.