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Stench Fills Jesus' Birthplace After Siege: PALIS TURN CHURCH INTO TRUCK STOP RESTROOM
Reuters ^ | May 10, 2002 03:44 PM ET | Paul Casciato and Michael Georgy

Posted on 05/10/2002 1:01:06 PM PDT by Cinnamon Girl

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (Reuters) - The overwhelming stench of urine was the first thing to hit visitors who entered the shrine in Bethlehem revered as the birthplace of Jesus.

The standoff between Palestinian militants and the Israeli army at the Church of the Nativity, which came to an end on Friday after nearly 40 days and nights of high drama, had left one of Christianity's holiest places in a shocking mess.

Garbage bags, lemon peels, gas canisters, petrol cans and electric hotplates were scattered throughout the church off Manger Square. A Reuters correspondent saw altars, the sacred focus of Christian worship, covered with food scraps.

"It's not a church any more, it's a place filled with beds and trash," said Sandy Shahin, a local teenager who rushed into the church minutes after the end of the siege on Friday.

"The smell is too bad. The floor is too bad. I'm filled with fear," Shahin, a Roman Catholic, said between sobs.

It seemed almost a small miracle that the Grotto of the Nativity, where a silver star installed by the Catholics in 1717 is set in white marble over the exact spot where Christians believe Jesus was born, was immaculate.

A Reuters correspondent saw dusty mattresses, flak jackets and helmets, left behind by the Palestinian militants holed up in the church and scattered across the floor.

Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian denominations share the fourth-century shrine, where areas of worship appeared to have escaped major damage in the standoff that included exchanges of gunfire between Israeli troops and the gunmen.

But the second floor of the Franciscan order's parish building in the complex looked like a war zone. Walls were pockmarked by bullet holes and scarred by smoke stains.

"I couldn't imagine something like this," said Manal Deik, a local banker, standing next to a bullet-riddled church wall which was also marked with graffiti scrawled in Arabic.

"We will repair it because the damage is not outside, it's inside and we can do something about that," said the 25-year-old Catholic.

Greek Orthodox priest Father Kariton, standing in the basilica near a pile of discarded gasmasks, added: "The most important things are okay, but the museum is a little damaged."

BICKERING

Soon after the militants left, priests from the often bickering denominations argued over whether to allow Israeli army bomb disposal experts in to make sure no explosives were left behind. The clergymen decided in favor of a sweep.

"We have found 40 explosive devices and five rifles hidden there and the IDF is dismantling them now," an army spokeswoman said.

Earlier, 13 men on Israel's most-wanted list left the church and were quickly flown on a British aircraft to Cyprus, the first stop in an exile abroad which will take them to third countries under a European Union-brokered deal.

Twenty-six others considered less serious offenders by Israel were expelled from the West Bank and taken to Gaza.

Some 200 people -- Palestinian militants, police, civilians, priests and nuns took refuge in the sanctuary to evade Israeli troops and tanks that swept into Bethlehem on April 2 in a West Bank offensive triggered by suicide bombings.

CROWD CHEERS

Outside the church on Friday, crowds of Palestinians cheered after Israeli armored personnel carriers pulled out of Manger Square. Church bells rang and cries of "Allahu Akbar," or "God is Greater" rang out from the loudspeakers of mosques.

Some of the 85 civilians, who returned to normal life in Bethlehem after undergoing an Israeli security check in a nearby army compound, were overjoyed at the prospect of simply taking a shower and eating a full meal for the first time in weeks.

After hugging and kissing emotional relatives who greeted them at Beit Jala Hospital near Bethlehem, the men said they asked themselves difficult questions during the standoff -- such as when Israeli snipers would fire next or food would run out.

"The Israelis had this tower with a remote control electronic device that fired on us whenever we were exposed. When we went outside we had to run away from it," said Naji Abu Obeid, a 19-year-old Palestinian policeman.

"We each had a safe spot in the church where we would hide such as behind columns," added Obeid, who said he used his AK-47 assault rifle to defend himself and others.

Israel, which engaged in lengthy negotiations with the Vatican and other interested parties over the church, strenuously denied firing into the shrine and said it did all it could to avoid damaging the Church of the Nativity.

Two Palestinian men were killed by gunfire in the church compound last month and another was later wounded.

NO STRANGER TO CONFLICT

A lemon tree stood in the Franciscan compound, its branches bare after those who had been holed up inside the shrine ate its leaves.

The church is no stranger to conflict. Samaritans destroyed much of the original church during a revolt in 529. Christian Crusader and Muslim armies fought over it for many years.

The church was rebuilt during the reign of the Roman Emperor Justinian in about 530 AD. Crusaders redecorated it and over the centuries it has been renovated and expanded with the addition of other chapels and monasteries around it.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Israel
KEYWORDS: braad; christianpersecutio; clashofcivilizatio; hughhewitt; israel
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To: Cinnamon Girl
There are wheels within wheels. The logistics are likely dictating the chess moves. What is the status of PGMs and where will the platforms base? Debbie's emotion is one more scream joining a building firestorm. It is not for nothing Bush is our leader at this time.
141 posted on 05/10/2002 6:38:28 PM PDT by PhilDragoo
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To: sleavelessinseattle
But Hey, the Lion of Judah portrayed as a Dog???

I like Sharon, but there's only one Lion of Judah:

From Victory Chant

Hail, Hail, Lion of Judah
How powerful You are
Hail, Hail, Lion of Judah
How wonderful You are

Glory, Glory to the Lamb
You take me into the land
We will conquer in Your name
And proclaim that Jesus reigns

Hail, Hail, Lion of Judah
How powerful You are
Hail, Hail, Lion of Judah
How wonderful You are

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

-Revelation 5:5

142 posted on 05/10/2002 6:45:23 PM PDT by kezekiel
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To: Victor
"Yikes, what's next....the appearance of the AntiChrist?"

"Who said my name? Was that Ken Starr?"


143 posted on 05/10/2002 7:01:12 PM PDT by shadowman99
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To: Hugh Hewitt; RonDog
You didn't mention this aspect of the story today, Hugh. Isn't it ironic that the Palestinians claim the latest intifada started because Ariel Sharon dared to walk near the mosques that were build on top of the Holy Temple Mount? He was out of line for doing that, but these poor guys are pitied by the left for using a Christian place of worship as a latrine?
144 posted on 05/10/2002 7:17:04 PM PDT by Cinnamon Girl
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To: yianni
I myself use the term "Pal" when referring to the "Palestinians" on FR. It's shorter to write, and has a nice, friendly connotation, even though I don't consider them our friends. Do any sensitive types here have a problem with "Pal terrorists", "Pal homicide/suicide bombers", or "Pal gunmen"?
145 posted on 05/10/2002 7:26:56 PM PDT by tomahawk
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To: Cinnamon Girl
shrine in Bethlehem

Correction: Not the birthplace.

146 posted on 05/10/2002 7:30:20 PM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: US admirer
The thought has crossed my mind, but once I started seeing Palestinians use the abbreviation themselves on other forums, it ceased to be a concern.
147 posted on 05/10/2002 7:36:44 PM PDT by SKempis
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To: Cinnamon Girl
hmmm, i've seen this kind of wanton trashing before. . . let me remember. . .

oh yeah! i'm an EX-inner city landlord and this is how it looks after a good tenant leaves.

148 posted on 05/10/2002 7:38:19 PM PDT by bandlength
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To: Dave S
That is no excuse for the trashing of the joint, including altars or the theft of gold artifacts (reported by priests who left earlier). Considering the overall treatment and disrespect, if the only stench is coming from unflushed toilets, I will be shocked.
149 posted on 05/10/2002 7:41:52 PM PDT by SKempis
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To: Cinnamon Girl
I'm told the Muslims use their right hand to eat and reserve the left hand for ..... er ahh.... toilet paper.
150 posted on 05/10/2002 7:54:25 PM PDT by Humidston
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To: Cinnamon Girl
The city of Bethlehem had a christian majority until control was turned over to the PLO as a christmas present to Arafat.

Since it has been under palistinian " occupation" the Christians have been forced out of their homes so palistinians could move into their settlements. Of course none of the main stream media has not seen fit to mention the plight of the christians and the way their homes have taken from them and the fact that they are being forced out of the city in large numbers.

But then what the hell? They're dimi's. If the muslims follow their usual method the church will be gradually be replaced by a mosque or access denied to religions by intimidation.

151 posted on 05/10/2002 7:59:43 PM PDT by mississippi red-neck
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To: Cinnamon Girl
this just proves how full of $hIt they are!

watch out for those 'land mines'!!

152 posted on 05/10/2002 8:38:04 PM PDT by rockfish59
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To: SKempis
That is no excuse for the trashing of the joint, including altars or the theft of gold artifacts (reported by priests who left earlier). Considering the overall treatment and disrespect, if the only stench is coming from unflushed toilets, I will be shocked.

I was watching the cable news channels tonight and they were reporting that while the inside of the church was messy (as one would expect housing upwards of 200 people) there was no evidence of any deliberate damage. Frescos on the wall were undamaged. Large crucifixes within reach were not touched. There was little evidence of damage from gunfire from either the Palestinians or Israelis. Yes, the place stank but that was likely to happen if you bring 200 third world people into a building without power or water for five weeks. I think some people are looking for reasons to be outraged. Dont the Palestinians do enough real things which are an outrage that we dont need to create additional things to be pissed about?

153 posted on 05/10/2002 9:19:35 PM PDT by Dave S
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To: mississippi red-neck
Ah yes...the Sophisticated Muslim..the Islam of the 21st century..
We just aren't noticing their potential..the media and "Enlightened politicians" frustrated by our finger pointing and comments to things like...Child suicide bombers..and..staying in buildings for 5 weeks - defecating the place out for the next decade.

Islam is .."Moving toward Democracy" we are told..be patient..don't judge.
Seems to me that Islam is just.."Mooning" toward Democracy.

154 posted on 05/10/2002 9:32:29 PM PDT by Light Speed
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To: MarMema
The PA also took a nunnery away from ROCOR, and gave it to the MP. Ironically, one of the nuns involved was George Stephanopolis's sister, who has taken holy orders.

Why Orthodox Christians support Arafat is a mystery to me, but not an excellent mystery. My brother, an Orthodox priest, says that the Arab Christians are being ground between two millstones. He may be right, but guess which stone is pressing and turning.

155 posted on 05/10/2002 9:34:03 PM PDT by No Truce With Kings
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To: dubyagee
Not the place, and not yet - but it's coming.
156 posted on 05/10/2002 9:54:48 PM PDT by Hila
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To: Alieno nomine
PING
157 posted on 05/10/2002 10:16:08 PM PDT by jdogbearhunter
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To: Corporate Law
You know that the AP would be having a total fit if it were a mosque, front page of the New York and LA Slimes.

Yup---if this had been done to a moham mosque, it would be considered the hate crime of the century. There would be a fit of backlash of sensitivity training and diversity and hate-crime awareness public service announcements and telethons. Editorialists and NPR commentators would be wringing hands and gnashing teeth over the permanently warped lives of moslem children who witnessed on their tv screens the site of their holy sites desecrated so vilely yadayadayada.

Personally, I'd like to see an equally "militant" Christian group march over to the Dome of the Rock with a couple of large bombs and bring the structure down to the consistency of CAT LITTER.

158 posted on 05/10/2002 11:24:08 PM PDT by gg188
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To: gg188
bring the structure down to the consistency of CAT LITTER

Then bring the cats over to use it, of course. Or better yet, pigs.

159 posted on 05/10/2002 11:31:50 PM PDT by drlevy88
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To: US admirer
I agree; I personally would not have used the term "palis". After all, what would the garden club think?

I would have said "subhuman animal towelheads." That's better, isn't it? Take your PC recommendations to Democrat Underground.

Admire this.

It's my battle flag against the "subhuman animal towelheads". It is not directed at you. Honest. I mean it. Really.

160 posted on 05/11/2002 12:10:29 AM PDT by jrewingjr
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