The New Year’s mass took place on Thursday at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

[Chase, American Tourist]:
"It is great, it is a beautiful, beautiful country, beautiful time to be here, and definitely a significant city in Christianity."

Many of the tourists arrived at the West Bank for Christmas festivities last week, and stayed over for New Year's mass.

One tourist said that he would pray for peace in the region.

[Father Michel Angelo Priotto, Italian Tourist]:
"We pray for peace, real peace. Not only political peace, but real peace, so that the two people, the Jewish people and the Arabic people can stay together in this land."