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The main body of the Church of the Nativity is shared by Armenians, Greek Orthodox, and Catholics. The nave, altar and grotto of the Church is under the shared supervision of the Orthodox and the Armenians. The adjoining Church of St. Catherine is under the direct supervision of the Franciscans. There is complex arrangment by which these various Christian groups share the sacred site of Christ's birth. The Franciscans and the Greek Orthodox have made it clear that if it had been Israelis rushiing into the Church for sanctuary from an overwhelming Palestinian army outside, they would have done the same and remained to protect the Church and given sanctuary to those who sought it.

The use of a sonic weapon is invasion of the Church as much as if they had filled the Church with tear gas -- which is strictly forbidden under the accord with the Vatican.

The Franciscans and the Greek Orthodox have made it clear that if it had been Israelis rushiing into the Church for sanctuary from an overwhelming Palestinian army outside, they would have done the same and remained to protect the Church and given sanctuary to those who sought it.

Not even for a minute did I question the motives of the clergy inside. What I said was that the Palestinians play the Western sentiment as a fiddle. It is they, by their choice that purposefully stayed away from the portion controlled by the Vatican.

I will let you be the judge as to what constitutes the proper Christian response to the situation. It is my understanding, however, that at no time did the Church suggest too hide criminals from the law. What typically happens is that the running fugitive is given a sanctuary if he asks for it, and when the passions subside and there is no threat to the fugitive's life, the clergy would try to persuade him to surrender (to the law, of course, not to some gang). As for the law, Israelis have documents backing up the criminality of the fighters inside. In my view, they made a generous offer: to leave the country, or stand trial (note that we never give such an option to those who violate our laws).

The problem is, of course, that the clergy are not in a position to do anything: they are, in fact, hostages. I sympathize with them, and prey for their safety. With several machine guns next to them, they say they are giving sanctuary. You and I know that no one asked for it: the Palestinians took the Church by force. The clergy is deprived of freedom to speak.

You and I, however, are not deprived of the freedom to think. Why are you not appalled that the Palestinians stormed the Church? If you are in doubt, dig up the facts; you will find that there is nothing new about that. A few months ago (I can find a thread here on FR), they were actually shooting from the church on Manger Square. Were you appalled then? I was: although I am not a Christian, I can see a desecration of a shrine when I face it, no matter whose holy place it is. A couple of weeks ago, the Palestinians lynched an alleged collaborator --- in front of a church on the Manger Square. Were you applied then? I was and spoke up. In addition to desecration, that was a clear (to me) case of intimidation: chances are the poor victim was a Christian. You want more? Just check on the statistics telling you about the disappearance of the Christian population in Bethlehem.

You are welcome to continue to believe that Palestinians "asked" for sanctuary. Selective attention and selective retention is a popular decease in the Western world. It appears, however, that I, a Jew, am more insulted by the desecration of Christian sites than you are.

The use of a sonic weapon is invasion of the Church as much as if they had filled the Church with tear gas -- which is strictly forbidden under the accord with the Vatican.

Oh please! It's not bricks and morter that make that place holy, it's what happened there. Noise, war, angry militants, nothing will change the fact that the site is holy. Once this is over, the site will still be holy. Do you really think a little gunfire or acid rock can erase something so significant?