A Pennsylvania man has been accused of burglarizing at least three apartments and vandalizing them with spray paint and chocolate pudding _ after police say he was found covered in chocolate syrup.

Palestinians in a refugee camp near Bethlehem want to receive Pope Benedict XVI in what they say is the most fitting setting _ next to the towering cement wall that is part of Israel’s West Bank separation barrier and borders the camp on two sides.

Muslim calligrapher Yasser Abu Saymeh has dedicated the past two months to Christian art, writing the Gospel of Luke in ornate Arabic script to be presented to Pope Benedict XVI when the Roman Catholic leader visits the Holy Land next month.

Bethlehem marked Christmas on Thursday with crowds of tourists joining local Palestinian Christians in Jesus’ traditional birthplace, as the West Bank town basked in its once-a-year appearance in the world spotlight.

Christians celebrated Bethlehem’s merriest Christmas in eight years Wednesday, with hotels booked solid, Manger Square bustling with families and Israeli and Palestinian forces cooperating to make things run smoothly.

Claire Anastas’ house is surrounded on three sides by a gray cement wall. Israel’s separation barrier has forced the family to close its car repair business because customers can no longer get there.

The mayor of Bethlehem said Wednesday that Pope Benedict XVI will pay a visit to the Holy Land in May.

The mayor of Bethlehem says Pope Benedict XVI will visit the Holy Land in May.

A 10-meter-high (32-feet-high) Christmas tree has been lit in Manger Square. The ceremony began the Christmas season in Jesus’ traditional birthplace.

Palestinian leaders want to deploy about 900 troops to Bethlehem to maintain order during Christmas celebrations and are asking Israel to let the reinforcements stay on after the holiday, officials said Monday.