Posted on 04/16/2002 5:49:34 PM PDT by history_matters
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian gunmen hiding in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity have exchanged fire with Israeli soldiers who have surrounded the traditional birthplace of Jesus in a two-week-old standoff.
Fransiscan Father Seweryn Lubecki, who is one of several dozen Christian clerics stranded in the church after Palestinian gunmen burst in two weeks ago, said the fighting lasted for about an hour.
"We could hear heavy rifle and tank shooting. It is hard for us to determine who started the shooting. We are locked up and we could not see the whole thing," he told Reuters by telephone.
"It seems that the basilica was not damaged. The Israeli soldiers are very careful not to damage it," he said.
Mohammed Al-Madani, the governor of Bethlehem who is among those holed-up inside, said the Israelis had tried to storm the church but failed.
"They tried to get in, but they couldn't," he told Reuters by telephone. "There are no injuries, thank God."
The army said in a statement: "Palestinian opened fire at Israeli forces who fired back at the source of the fire."
Israeli forces who invaded Bethlehem two weeks ago besieged the shrine after dozens of gunmen burst into the church compound to seek refuge with some 50 monks, priests and nuns.
Israeli officials say around 30 gunmen in the church were wanted for deadly attacks against Israelis and the forces would not leave until they either surrendered and were put on trial in Israel or agreed to accept safe-passage into exile.
Bethlehem's governor Madani has rejected the plan.
FLARES IN BETHLEHEM SKY
During the exchange, four flares lit up the sky, while the church bell rang in the background.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Israeli television in an interview U.S. Central Intelligence Agency officials had mediated the deal to end the impasse but it had not yet received Palestinian Authority approval.
He said some of the gunmen were involved in militant attacks in which American citizens were killed.
"Those who are not involved in terror acts and are not members of terror groups will be released and those who are involved must decide between standing trial in Israel...or being expelled," Sharon said.
Israel has said it has no intention of storming the church. Asked about Israeli plans, Major Tal Ravlan, an army spokesman, said: "There are a few alternatives to storming the church but I would not like to get into it right now."
A statement from Palestinians inside, which was sent to a local hospital official, said the army was arresting family members to put them under pressure to give themselves up.
The Israeli army said it only arrested people it suspected of "terrorist" activity and did not use arrests to exert any psychological pressure on others.
Earlier, the Israeli army evacuated two Palestinians needing medical attention from the church in a military ambulance. The Israeli army said both men, one of them wounded by gunshot wounds several days ago, were placed under arrest.
Israeli soldiers on Tuesday occupied the top floor of a hotel overlooking the church complex. Ravlan said the army would be staying for two to three days, but did not give any reasons.
Bingo!
That is why the scum didn't run to a mosque to try and save their worthless lives.
Whenever the fighters leave the church will be a dangerous time, because their dislike for Christians is only slightly less than their hatred towards the Jews.
Actually they are known to try that also, and with some success. However, there's no one inside a mosque to take as a non-hostage hostage.
"Do you think Muslims care a whit about it?"
Two points:
1. Not all Palestinians are Muslim. Many are Christian, and have probably worship in the Church of the Nativity. (I don't know about the gunmen obviously.)
2. Many Muslims have a strong devotion to Mary and to the events of the Nativity. The site, without the presence of the church that is already there, would probably have become a Mosque - and as a result of their reverence for Mary and the Birth of Christ, not out of a desire to drive out the Christians, though such action would have such an affect.
Yeah, and as I recall, they blame all their anger at Sharon for daring to step foot near their precious holiest of holy's. I'm sick and tired of their double standard tantrums! They're like baby girls - hiding out in OUR holy church under the skirts of OUR clerics. What hypocrisy!
Kinda reminds me of Jews for Jesus,this would be a small minority of muslims,and I doubt the gunmen belong to that minority.
Israelis acting rationally in their own best interest would never destroy the church. However I am not confident that they are going to be rational. The audio harassment of the church does not inspire confidence, especially considering what happened at Waco.
In a sense it is a trap. If the Israelis either deliberately or unwittingly force a confrontation, and the church is destroyed it would permanently insert an element of anti-semitism into the Christian religion and the celebration of Christmas. Hard core zionists might blame the arabs and continue to support Israel but most of Christendom would react negatively toward Israel and the Jews.
88.9% of palestinians are Sunni Muslim. There is only 2% Christians in the Palestinian Authority.
I saw the interview on EWTN last week. It was very interesting. My heart goes out to the Christians living in the West Bank and to the religious orders who maintain the holy sites. I would like visit the Holy Land someday, but not under the current conditions, certainly.
The many are fewer and fewer. Used to be Bethlehem was half Christian, now it's 20% and declining. Also used to be that some of the terrorists were Christians (ethnicly; of course not in the sense of "that man is a real Christian"). No longer; I'll bet the fighters in the church are 100% Muslim.
We know who the scumbags are, so let's give the Franciscan Fathers the benefit of a doubt before we start pointing fingers and whining.
I agree with you, but I still think the Israelis could have desrecrated the Church two weeks ago, and I do believe the terrorists fired first.
We are the hostages, and the Holy Places themselves. Israel knows this and proceeds accordingly.
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