Posted on 04/24/2002 9:59:30 AM PDT by anotherview
By Amos Harel and Anat Cygielman, Ha'aretz Correspondents, and agencies
Last update 18:40
An IDF soldier sustained light-to-moderate wounds Wednesday during an exchange of fire with Palestinians in at the entrance to Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, as talks attempting to resolve the standoff in the holy site resumed.
After the gun battle, which lasted a quarter of an hour, the soldier was evacuated for medical treatment to Hadassah University Hospital in Ein Karem, Jerusalem.
Earlier Wednesday, IDF troops shot and seriously wounded a Palestinian who came out of the Church of the Nativity, hours before the talks were toAn IDF soldier sustained light-to-moderate wounds Wednesday during an exchange of fire with Palestinians in at the entrance to Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, as talks attempting to resolve the standoff in the holy site resumed.
The Palestinian was taken to a hospital in Israel for treatment.
Palestinian official Salah Taamari said after emerging from an initial negotiating session Tuesday evening that there were "still some tough points" to be tackled in the impasse between IDF soldiers and the scores of Palestinian gunmen, clergy, and others holed up in the church.
Earlier Tuesday, Palestinians had reported that discussions had been "constructive", while Israeli sources said that it was "too early to assess" any achievements.
"The Palestinians outlined their position, as did we," said IDF spokesman Olivier Rafowicz, as the first round of talks ended on Tuesday afternoon. "It is too early to assess what was achieved. The talks will resume in the near future."
Meanwhile, reports emerged of the growing distress of clerics inside the church.
Two monks managed to climb onto one of the roofs inside the church compound earlier in the day, and raised a sign saying "Please Save Us."
IDF sources said Tuesday that three Armenian monks who escaped the compound described "shocking scenes" from within the church. They said that Palestinian gunmen had begun beating some of the monks Monday night and had stolen a number of gold artifacts from the church.
A press conference scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, in which the three monks were expected to participate, was later cancelled due to the monks' fatigue.
Tuesday's meeting is aimed at brokering a compromise over the standoff between IDF forces and the Palestinian gunmen holed up inside the church. The meeting was originally set for last Thursday, but was canceled by Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat at the last minute.
"The situation is getting steadily worse," Canon Andrew White, an envoy sent by the Anglican Church, said Monday. "There is no food. The people are getting water from a well. The sanitary conditions are terrible. Several people are sick and some are injured."
White said the 35 priests and nuns in the church were staying on voluntarily to ensure no harm came to the shrine, built over Jesus' traditional birth grotto.
The Palestinians had said that they would not begin truce talks until IDF forces had left all Palestinian-run areas in the West Bank. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said that troops surrounding the church will not budge until the gunmen inside surrender to IDF troops. He has said that they can choose to be tried in Israel or deported.
You know, when there is war there is destruction. How much is to be blamed on Israel, and how much on the Palestinians who booby trapped buildings and bodies? How much was done by the IDF and how much by Palestinian fighters? Why did the IDF have a reason to go to Jenin in the first place? Had there been no suicide bombings might there have been no attack on Jenin? Hmmm...
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