Church caretaker and bell ringer shot and killed during Bethlehem standoff

Associated Press ^

[a_Turk]

Anyone who claims to know is simply pushing their agenda. Is that what are doing, my friend?

I am asking who it's going to be to autopsy the corpse. Wanna guess? My agenda is not to mask what is happnin with suppositions, even though I am pretty sure that it was not one of the suckers inside who did it.

[Wordsmith]

Memory eternal.

Thanks for the ping, MM.

[JAWs]

Would the United States somehow become weaker or less of a country if we decided to just step back and let these two groups just slug it out over their rocks and sand?

Actually that's what Bush is doing now, to the world's consternation.

As for your original theory, it is possible, but, using Occam's razor, unlikely. The IDF is a disciplined organization which wants to aviod the PR nightmare of damaging the church. The PA genmen, a band of terrorists and yahoos, holed up in the church because it was where they'd be safest from the IDF.

[jo6pac]

Father Parthenius, a Canadian Greek Orthodox priest inside, said the Palestinian militiamen were frightened but respectful of the church and the clergy. He said some of the fighters are Christians and join in the Masses held there each day. Several wounded militiamen, mostly with light injuries, were treated at the church, he said.

[secret garden]

Israel is the only democracy in that region so we have a vested interest in preserving their country. All the other countries are dictatorships or pseudo-monarchies, which hate each other, but not as much they collectively hate the Jews.

[ladyjane]

Would the United States somehow become weaker or less of a country if we decided to just step back and let these two groups just slug it out over their rocks and sand? Or would we be better off?

Interesting questions. A year ago on Free Republic these questions might have elicited some interesting and informative comments. Unfortunately, FR discussions of the role of the US in the conflict have now deteriorated into name calling and insults.

[a_Turk]

they collectively hate the Jews.

Another ignorant prejudiced biggot.

[luvzhottea]

Just an isolated case I am sure ;o)

[luvzhottea]

Father Parthenius, a Canadian Greek Orthodox priest inside, said the Palestinian militiamen were frightened but respectful of the church and the clergy. He said some of the fighters are Christians and join in the Masses held there each day. Several wounded militiamen, mostly with light injuries, were treated at the church, he said.

Well then what side could it have been? Hmmmmm.

[a_Turk]

Wonder what's going to happen to the status quo when the American Jews have to answer their Christian counterparts' curious question: "How come you shot folks who took refuge in a church?"

Damn that bombastic callous megalomaniac man!

[secret garden]

Very true. It seems to descend into name-calling and insults when they run out of points worth debating.

[Nix 2]

PA Propaganda Machines Results in Vatican Apology

(IsraelNN.com) Vatican Ambassador to Israel Cardinal Pietro Samari apologized to the Israel Defense Forces for the incorrect and false report of the supposed death of a priest in St. Mary's Church in Bethlehem.

The Vatican accusation was the result of yet another PA disinformation bulletin, part of Yasser Arafat’s propaganda campaign designed to besmirch Israel in the eyes of the international community.

Please note:
This apology was not issued publicly as was the false report that the IDF had killed a Catholic Priest in his church. I don't expect to see it on the networks nor in the lamestream. The Pope, himself, should have shouted out this apology for a lie perpetrated by Arafat and his merry murderers. He was certainly quick on the draw to defend the SOBs.

[jo6pac]

You're saying Father Parthenius is a liar?

[Nix 2]

Not at all. I'm SAYING he isn't DEAD!!!

[Nix 2]

And neither is any other priest in St. Mary's. Pali prop at the point of a gun can't possibly be a fun thing.

[jo6pac]

Wrong church. This thread is about what has transpired at the Church of the Nativity.

[jo6pac]

Last night I watched a videotape of a column of IDF tanks rolling down a street in, I believe, Bethlehem.

The lead tank came up to what looked like a perfectly intact newer model automobile and instead a driving by it, the tank drove over crushed it.

The hatred sickens me. I am afraid Attila Sharon is leading his country to extinction, and maybe us, too.

[a_Turk]

If it was a Palestinian car, it was probably used for terror purposes /sarcasm

If Israel's stock goes out the window, you can bet that US as a shareholder will suffer major consequences in world leadership. Good luck Bush, thank God for the quality of his and his dad's inner circles.

[jo6pac]

If it was a Palestinian car, it was probably used for terror purposes.

Excellent spin.