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.
I think there is a spiritual reason we are all transfixed with what is going on at the Church of the Holy Nativity. I feel certain that there is serious spiritual warfare going there, and none of us have the full picture of what is going on ... but that the world is shaking and we need to cling to Jesus.
"And Mary the daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity; and We breathed into (her body) of Our spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of his Revelations, and was one of the devout (servants)."(Surah 19:16-21)
"The only true faith in God's sight is Islam." (Surah 3:19)
Actions speak louder than words.
I don't know how Catholicism, which reveres sites and relics, would react, but Protestants generally couldn't care less about this factor. To the latter it would certainly be a tragic loss of a historic site, but no religious umbrage would be taken.
Definitely. Symbolism is always found in spiritual warfare, and the symbolism in this case is powerful: a group of armed Muslim terrorists retreats into a sacred Christian church seeking refuge, and is besieged by angry Jews. Wow, it's like the three-way standoff at the end of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!
Get out the popcorn, 'cuz this is a scenario that is interesting on all levels!
Imal
Less than 2% of Palestinians are Christians.
Definitely, we do not know exactly what is happening inside the Nativity Church. However, one thing certain is that the Franciscans do not have a spiritual war. Their resolve reflects their order, and their love of Jesus and the Trinity.
I still profoundly believe that the Israelis have shown respect for this shrine. If one knows the Israeli military capabilities, the Church would not be standing today. I do believe that a prayer to St. Anthony to help those who have so lost their souls may help.
Just like Josephs tomb, that the Palestinians signed a treaty to respect as a Jewish Holy site, that was, before the burned to the ground and rebuilt it as a mosque. If the Christians leave the Church, it will be a Mosque and they will not be allowed back in within two days. Of course they are staying, they are Christian Hero's! And yes they have a gun to their heads. Funny, the IDF has strict orders not to shoot at the church, if firing is erupting every night, it just means the PLO have not run out of bullets yet.
The term 'tear gas', comes to mind.
There is no respect shown by filling the Church with such noise and subjecting the innocent to the same treatment as the gunmen.
That certainly explains why they desecrate churches and kill Muslims who convert to Christianity.
Ten years of Lebanese war between the Christians and the Muslims laid the groundwork for Sabra and Shatila. Also 2 days before Sabra/Shatilla the new president of Lebanon was killed with 27 others in a huge bomb blast.
Damour was an atrocity where Muslims slaughtered Christians and can be found on the internet.
Lebanese Christians fought hard in this war but my belief is the Muslims perpetrated more killings of civilians and bloody ones at that!
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Parliament/2587/damour.html
A few minutes after they had gone, ‘the PLO came and bombed the church without entering it. They kicked open the door and threw in the grenades.’ They would all have been killed had they stayed.The priest led his flock along the shore to the palace of Camille Chamoun. But when they got there they found it had already been sacked and partly burnt. They found shelter, however, in the palace of a Muslim, who ‘did not agree with the Palestinians’, and then got into small boats Which took them out to a bigger boat, in which they sailed to Jounieh. ‘One poor woman had to give birth to her baby in the little open boat on the rough winter sea.’
In all, 582 people were killed in the storming of Damour. Father Labaky went back with the Red Cross to bury them. Many of the bodies had been dismembered, so they had to count the heads to number the dead. Three of the men they found had had their genitals cut off and stuffed into their mouths.
Locked up??? I thought they were there voluntarily, not hostages.
Forgive me for not articulating my point more succinctly. First, the Israelis and the Palestinians are at war, just like we are at war in Afghanistan. Innocents become a part of that war. Blasting noises at a church is a far cry from suicide bombings, or flying suicide air missions destroying buildings where only civilians are present, and killing all the passengers on the planes.
I have finally come to the conclusion that the Palestinian terrorists knew the Israelis would not attack the Church of the Nativity, and purposely chose the Church as a haven. The only logic that would follow is that the Franciscans ARE being held hostage. Do you think that the Israelis would have surrounded the Church of the Nativity if the terrorists were not present?
With the gunfire that broke out yesterday, which I do believe was initiated by the terrorists, there should be grave concern that the violence may escalate. The terrorists do not care about those inside the Church, whatsoever, and that is where our prayers are needed. I thought the Franciscans would be safe as the world watches, but Arafat has now made it clear that this is of no conern to him.
Even a bunch of Muslims who abuse and use your church.
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