Israeli officials reported today that approval had been given to about 6,000 applications from Israeli Christians to cross into Jordan to celebrate Christmas at Bethlehem. They said that only 5,600 would make the trip, because the Jordanians so far had refused to approve 350 of the applications. The number approved by Israel was the same as that in 1961.
For the first time, the Israeli Christians will be able to tour Jordan under special tourist permits, according to Jordanian reports. The Israeli treasury is providing foreign currency for each pilgrim.
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