Under heavy security, Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Mahmoud Abbas arrived in the holy West Bank city of Bethlehem Friday night to attend Christmas celebrations.

It was the first time for a top Palestinian leader to attend Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem since 2000.

As soon as Abbas arrived in Bethlehem, he met with Latin Patriarch Michel Sabah who reached the holy city on Friday afternoon.

He said that after Arafat's death, the Palestinians would carry his message of peace and try to achieve peace in the holy land.