Risk by man crossing ultimately controversial border in Middle Eastern city (9)

I believe the answer is:

bethlehem

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'border in middle eastern city' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'risk by man crossing ultimately controversial' is the wordplay.
'risk' becomes 'bet' (I've seen this in another clue).
'by' becomes 'hehe' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'man' becomes 'm'.
'crossing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'ultimately' suggests the final letters.
The final letter of 'controversial' is 'l'.
'hehe'+'m'='hehem'
'hehem' placed around 'l' is 'hlehem'.
'bet'+'hlehem'='BETHLEHEM'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for bethlehem that I've seen before include "Middle East town" , "Birthplace of Jesus" , "Town where Christ was born" , "Birthplace of Christ" , "Jesus's birthplace" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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