Israel announced on Thursday that security in the holy town of Bethlehem in the West Bank during Christmas celebrations would be handed over to the Palestinian police forces.

Israeli security sources said the Israeli army would pull out of the town and keeps its presence at roadblocks outside the city.

The sources added that Israeli citizens should sign a document that their security is not an Israeli responsibility if they enter the holy town where Jesus Christ was born.

The sources said all Palestinians, Muslims and Christians from all over the West Bank would be able to enter the city.

The United Nations has condemned Israel's full security control of the city, which it said in a report was completely isolated and surrounded by nine Jewish settlements and Israeli army roadblocks.

Michele Sabbah, head of the Latin Church in the Palestinian territories and Israel, told reporters that the city of Bethlehem had turned into a big prison after Israel constructed a security wall around it.

He called upon Israel to stop immediately the construction of the wall.