Gun battle at Church of the Nativity

Ananova ^ | Story filed: 20:49 Monday 22nd April 2002 | Ananova

[Democrats are liars]

Gun battle at Church of the Nativity

Heavy gunfire has broken out between Israeli forces and armed Palestinians holed up inside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

Stun grenades were heard around the church and a puff of white smoke rose up from the compound.

A Palestinian policeman inside the compound said Israeli fire was hitting the church walls.

Israel's army said Palestinians opened fire from several positions in the church compound and soldiers returned fire.

Bethlehem Governor Mohammed Mdani, who is inside the church, said the Israelis fired first, and armed Palestinians shot back. There were no reports of injuries in the 15-minute exchange.

Mr Mdani said fires set by the stun grenades damaged two rooms of Greek Orthodox monks and were put out.

A courtyard statue of the Virgin Mary near St. Catherine's church also was damaged by gunfire but the extent cannot yet be determined.

Palestinian policemen inside the church said Israeli soldiers were leaning ladders against compound walls.

The army has leaned up ladders before to throw in leaflets urging surrender and to allow people interested in leaving the church to get out. Israel has promised Christian leaders it would not storm the church.

On Sunday, five people used the ladders to get out, two civilians, two Palestinian police and one member of Yasser Arafat's guard.

[anatolfz]

No - calm down. Let IDF go and sort them out. I say it's Israeli property and they have the right to deal with bad guys in their country as they see fit. Blow it up if necessary. Christians aren't as tied to "religious sites" as you might think. Jesus said, "Wherever ye are gathered in my name," and that means anywhere - Tuktoyaktuk, my backyard, etc. I think IDF is best equipped to deal with these guys and let 'em at it! It can be rebuilt later.

[Maelstrom]

Were it up to me, and it is one of my church's. I would storm the church to save the hostages. Someone should give the IDF the go ahead.

Once the hostages are out, if Palestinians remain, I would be in favor of walling up all exits, running kerosene through the place and setting it alight.

Then rebuild.

The IDF has shown more restraint than I would...the Palestinians are at fault and at this point I'm no longer opposed to the idea of ceding the Sinai Peninsula, Syria AND Jordan to Israel so long as they eliminate the concept (and that's all it is) of Palestine.

[OldFriend]

If nothing else, you certainly have provided comic relief to a deadly serious topic.

[Hail Caesar]

IF this holy place is destroyed and/or people murdered in it. Christendom will hold BOTH the Palestinians and the Israelis responsible for that, PERIOD.

[Shooter 2.5]

You're correcting me because I put a space between the two bangs?

Jees!

[tomkat]

Although we FReepers have a well-earned reputation for busting on folks with illogical/fantasy-based positions,
I for one am a bit ashamed that you've been abused several times on this thread for no other failing than that you are
obviously not a native speaker of the English language.

Frankly, I think it takes quite a bit of courage to attempt posting your views on a 'foreign' website.

Though I may disagree with some of your points, I admire your effort ....

[Alas]

For heavens sake, Christ is not in that building, why don't the Israelis just go in and get the murdering cvowards?

[ClancyJ]

You would be singing a somewhat less indifferent tune if your church was invaded by Moslems and shot up.

You are correct. I really get irate when I see obscene art depicting Jesus, the son of God who died for us. I would get upset if anyone invaded a church in the U.S. I am sure the Palestinians picked this site so as to inflame the Christians and to hope that we would make the Israelis pull out.

Yet, I am not going to get upset with their actions in this instance - the Israelis are handling it.

[McGavin999]

Well, I certainly wouldn't ask my country to go to war over it.

[Congressman Billybob]

There are two sets of "Christians" involved here. The ones who have traditionally sided with the Palestinians are touting the Palestinian line. The ones who have just escaped from the Church by climbing down the ladders which the IDF put there, are telling an entirely different story.

Which set of Christians do you believe, and why?

Congressman Billybob

Click here to fight Campaign Finance "Reform/".

Click here for latest: "Memo to Yasser from Irv on Career Choices."

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

I suggest if you are a Christian (and I believe you are by your passion about this) you should pray for the safety of the true Christians, for wisdom for the leaders on the ground, and for preservation of the church structure.

Though there are many instances where God, Jesus, and the prophets have teached reverance in Church and Holy Shrines, I cannot recall anywhere in the bible where God actually gave great import to the structure? How may times has the Temple on the mount been destroyed? Man has oftem made the shrines to be more important than God, but God has never made them more important than man!

[galt-jw]

"israeli bullets are hitting the building"

well, if ya'd get yer ass outside we could kill you better. thats physics, abdul.

[Intimidator]

This Christian says blast them out of there. Jesus was not born in that church, he was born in the spot. A building can be rebuilt.

[tet68]

It's a sacred shrine and there will be hell to pay if it's intentionally damaged.

And who will you hold responsible if it is? The armed thugs who hold it or the police?