Bethlehem

Bethlehem has a unique setting spanning a fertile landscape to the west and desert to the east. Its diverse environment made it a center for Baal and Adonis on the one hand, and the perfect setting for desert monasteries on the other. Its historical and religious significance turned it into a place for pilgrimage and a tourist destination, while its location on one of the ancient trade routes made it a city for expansive cultural exchange. The city's present-day inhabitants of Christian and Muslim Palestinians make it a unique place for inter-religious interaction. Different aspects of this rich socio-cultural history are the focus of twelve essays by: Michele Bacci/ Amanda Batarseh/ Nicholas Blincoe/ Glenn Bowmann/ Nuha Khoury/ Lance Laird/ Elizabeth Marteijn/ Falistin Naili/ Tom Selwyn/ Sawsan Shomali/ Dana Soboh/ Gislen Widen.