Fighting has broken out near Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity

BBC News Ticker ^ | 13th April 2002 | BBC News

[colette_g]

BBC News Ticker reports breaking news "Fighting has broken out near Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity"

[American in Israel]

Translation: "I do not agree with Sobieski"

I like mine better, pity and to the point. -grin-

[American in Israel]

But haven't you heard? Already on day one, a PLO policeman named Samir called from inside the church, insisting that all the terrorists' ammunition was used up. And Pali policemen never lie!

Didn't he say that right after saying that the Pali's would never fire guns from inside a church, because they were there to protect it from being defiled?

[sebastianWoof]

The news people are too chicken to call it as it is.~~~~ The PALESTINIAN GHETTO is under seige.~~~~~ Go for it Fox News!

[Robert_Paulson2]

Actually, I am quite sure this still IS US policy. Always has been.

Perhaps someone should try talking to a few A-10 or b-1, b-2 families... about USA policy, when soldiers lives are at stake or objective targets are identified. If the bad guys are in a holy place, they won't be spared from a high tech chest ripper... or even a dozen of them.

There is NO place to hide from the USAF... NONE. No "sacred ground" per se, and we don't have rules like they do in fantasy shows like "highlander."

We WOULD try and minimise damage, but lives of OUR men are always given more weight than antiques, hostages or collaborators in military situations.

I am sure the pallies are counting on the hope that the Israelis will respect the Christian site... but I doubt the USA would show this much restraint.

In the USAF, Fries still do go with our shakes... from what I understand.

The Israelis are showing a lot of sensitivity to the pallies and the sacredness of Christian relics.

[Robert_Paulson2]

I heard the monks say, they in fact WERE held hostage, and that the others were cooperating with the terrorists to try and save the lives of the innocents being threatened and the shrine itself...

I guess these could have been actors talking... using Israeli talking points... but to me they looked like the real deals.

It is interesting that the palapologists spend so much time here trying to spin us... who cares? I mean do islamofascists actually think that the decisions to life and death are made by us here? Or do they just like to see if we can catch them in their lies?

[TerryInRiverside]

Look if the monks and nuns are willingly harboring terrorists, that makes them terrorists as well. I am not saying that I believe you, though, that the monks would be dumb enought to side with the Palestinian murders.

You said it even better the first time! You're totally right, and don't give in.

[fire_eye]

Suggestions that THIS church is just another church deserving no extra measure of reverence is DISGUSTING. . . . and idiotic.

Then I enjoy the distinction of being a disgusting idiot. I don't care if every religious edifice on the planet gets blown to rubble.

I thought the God you humans worshipped didn't want you groveling in front of magical rocks and stones and buildings etc... And from that one might deduce that he/she/it isn't particularly thrilled over your spilling blood on stone altars of that sort. But, then, maybe I just don't understand, as always...

[Romulus]

The 4 monks that got out had quite the different story,

Got a link?

[rmlew]

Sure, why not. There's no other explanation for killing a monk.

Can I borrow your crystal ball or remote camera set up?

There is no independent verification, but what is known is that during a firefight, a monk was killed.
Why couldn't it be a mistake?

[rmlew]

What pro-Pali bias? I am pro-American. President Bush told the Israelis to knock it off. They didn't. If you are not with us, you are against us.

1. Israel isn't against the US. It simply isn't a servant of the US. Quite a few members of NATO have not gone along iwth Bush 100%. Shall we call them enemies? Or do you have a different standard for the Israelis?

[sobieski]

When you receive $3 billion in gifties, you are a servant. Most important, when Bush says pull back, you pull back. Bush decides what's in America's interest, and when you are on the American payroll and depend for your survival on US support, you listen.

[history_matters]

I have confidence in the Franciscans to fulfill their vows and to protect the holy sites. The presence of armed Palestinians in the Church of the Holy Nativity is a violation of the accords with Israel and the Palestinian Authority. As Father Peter Vasko, OFM, has said if the situation had been reversed and Israeli troops had poured in desperate for sanctuary, they would have not have tried to push them out into the arms of waiting Palestinian military and they would have remained to protect the holy site of Christ's birth, the oldest living Church in the world.

I believe the situation in Bethlehem is an enormous tragedy, and I do not trust Ariel Sharon or the Israeli media. Nor do I trust Arafat and the Palestinian news stories. I admire the Franciscans (and the Armenians, and the Greek Orthodox) for fulfilling their job of protecting the holy site and for being peacemakers, because their living presence is the only reason that a bloodbath has not taken place at the Church of the Holy Nativity. From what has happened I have zero confidence that the IDF on the scene will fulfill Israeli obligations to the accords governing the holy sites.

[BOBWADE]

Has it occurred to you that those holed up in this church are armed militants holding hostages and opening fire on those outside. They should be arrested and charged for war crimes.

[willyone]

Ignore this clown. just another anti Jew moron. He obviously prefers the company of scum and vermin like Ararat.

[willyone]

You are truly amusing. So then why don't those non hostages leave. Because they are an insurance policy for the Palis worthless lives. The best thing for the Israelis would be to withdraw and deal with them later. A Stalingrad will get them nothing.

[willyone]

It would have been far better to lose a few hundred Americans trying to take it the old fashioned way. After all pieces of stone matter more than people.

[willyone]

Sure you are not a little paranoid? Anyone who takes what we say on this forum to heart needs to get a life.

[willyone]

You're silly. And getting even more silly by the minute.

[willyone]

Is there something wrong with the way you look at the world? Just whose 200 terrorists are in the church? If they had not seizrd the church this would not be happening. Obviously you are one of the blame the victim crowd. If you get mugged on a street it was your fault for being there and your fault that they beat you since you only had ten bucks on you. Get a CAT scan.

[willyone]

The fact that you defend Holocaust revisionists says all that needs to be said. Whats the matter a Jewish guy steal your girlfriend and you're still mad about it? Poor baby.