Dubbed as 'Jerusalem's Santa,' Issa Kassissieh has fostered the spirit of Christmas in the Old City, going around neighbourhoods on a camel, drawing the attention of both people and tourists in East Jerusalem on Thursday.
Santa Claus has both distributed Christmas trees and holiday cheer along the ancient walls of Jerusalem's Old City ahead of Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations.
Issa could be seen on a camel roaming the streets, shouting, 'Merry Christmas from Jerusalem,' delighting children and adults as well.
"It's a dream come true for me to come because, as you know, they opened the border at the beginning of November, and I am here to help with Santa at the Santa house; they have a bazaar; it's beautiful there," said an American tourist.
In recent years, the former Palestinian basketball player Issa Kassissieh has been dressing as Santa Claus and distributing Christmas trees offered by the municipality.
Dubbed as 'Jerusalem's Santa,' Issa Kassissieh has fostered the spirit of Christmas in the Old City, going around neighbourhoods on a camel, drawing the attention of both people and tourists in East Jerusalem on Thursday.
Santa Claus has both distributed Christmas trees and holiday cheer along the ancient walls of Jerusalem's Old City ahead of Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations.
Issa could be seen on a camel roaming the streets, shouting, 'Merry Christmas from Jerusalem,' delighting children and adults as well.
"It's a dream come true for me to come because, as you know, they opened the border at the beginning of November, and I am here to help with Santa at the Santa house; they have a bazaar; it's beautiful there," said an American tourist.
In recent years, the former Palestinian basketball player Issa Kassissieh has been dressing as Santa Claus and distributing Christmas trees offered by the municipality.
Dubbed as 'Jerusalem's Santa,' Issa Kassissieh has fostered the spirit of Christmas in the Old City, going around neighbourhoods on a camel, drawing the attention of both people and tourists in East Jerusalem on Thursday.
Santa Claus has both distributed Christmas trees and holiday cheer along the ancient walls of Jerusalem's Old City ahead of Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations.
Issa could be seen on a camel roaming the streets, shouting, 'Merry Christmas from Jerusalem,' delighting children and adults as well.
"It's a dream come true for me to come because, as you know, they opened the border at the beginning of November, and I am here to help with Santa at the Santa house; they have a bazaar; it's beautiful there," said an American tourist.
In recent years, the former Palestinian basketball player Issa Kassissieh has been dressing as Santa Claus and distributing Christmas trees offered by the municipality.