Here is The Wall outside Aida (Palestinian) refugee camp in Bethlehem.

The photo below shows Palestinian boys playing next to The Wall, where a hand-painted sign welcomes the visit of the Pope to Palestine.

Another hand-painted sign being written to welcome the Pope to Aida refugee camp – here, The Wall almost looks surreal:

On Tuesday afternoon, just as the Pope is at Mass in Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, a marching band practices in advance of the Pope’s arrival here on Wednesday morning, playing drums and marching up and down on a road parallel to The Wall.

And workers were putting the final touches on the preparations, and adjusting the flags flying in Aida refugee camp.



Palestinian security forces are lining the street, but so far traffic has been moving.

It’s not clear exactly what will happen here tomorrow, but it will start early. Journalists have been asked to report for security checks at 5 am.

Bethlehem officials and the Palestinian Authority had hoped to receive the Pope on a special stage, or “amphitheater” just alongside The Wall — and Vatican officials agreed — but their plans were cancelled by Israeli military order, citing security risks.

Bethlehem, like the rest of the West Bank, is under Israeli military occupation.

In recent days, Palestinians were putting the finishing touches to the amphitheatre being prepared for Pope Benedict’s visit to Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem. But Israel has ordered a halt to construction and the Pope may not even use it when he speaks in Bethlehem on Wednesday.

The Pope will almost certainly visit the Church of the Nativity, where Jesus is believed to have been born in Bethlehem.