Bethlehem is a small, picturesque hillside city located about 10 kilometres south of the Old City of Jerusalem, in the central West Bank region of Israel. This picturesque hilltop town overlooks the vast and hauntingly beautiful Judean Desert where the famed Church of the Nativity marks the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The Hebrew Bible similarly identifies Bethlehem as the city where David was born and where he was crowned King of Israel. With its lively streets brimming with churches and religious significance, Bethlehem attracts pilgrims throughout the year and particularly during Christmas and Easter. The town also boasts the site of the Tomb of Rachel, Jacob's wife, who is believed to have died in childbirth here. Rachel's Tomb today lies in Israeli-controlled territory, immediately to the north of the wall that divides the area. The town of Bethlehem, with its characteristic minarets and steeples symbolically competing for control of the town’s skyline, is undoubtedly a must-see addition to any West Bank itinerary.