[history_matters]

The Franciscans disagree with you with regard to the current situation. Please see the link above where Fr. Peter Vasko, OFM of the Custody of the Holy Land insists that the Christians are not hostages but are choosing to stay there and protect the holy site as they have for the last 800 years.

[BlessedBeGod]

insists that the Christians are not hostages but are choosing to stay there and protect the holy site

Then I'm confused by what I saw last weekend on Fox. They showed two Franciscan friars who were allowed to leave the church. When asked by the media if they were held hostage, the gist of what they replied was, "They had guns. What do you think?"

[Lent]

The Franciscans disagree with you with regard to the current situation. Please see the link above where Fr. Peter Vasko, OFM of the Custody of the Holy Land insists that the Christians are not hostages but are choosing to stay there and protect the holy site as they have for the last 800 years.

Would you say anything else if your friends were held up with 200 terrorists? I didn't think so.

[AppyPappy]

Maybe they should all come out so we know they are truly not hostages.

[American in Israel]

Please see the link above where Fr. Peter Vasko, OFM of the Custody of the Holy Land insists that the Christians are not hostages but are choosing to stay there and protect the holy site as they have for the last 800 years.

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.