Posted on 04/23/2002 5:35:06 PM PDT by Shermy
Three Armenian monks, who had been held hostage by the Palestinian gunmen inside the Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, managed to flee the church area via a side gate yesterday morning. They immediately thanked the soldiers for rescuing them.
They told army officers the gunmen had stolen gold and other property, including crucifixes and prayer books, and had caused damage.
The three elderly monks were assisted by soldiers. One of them held a white cloth banner with the words "Please help."
One of the monks, Narkiss Korasian, later told reporters: "They stole everything, they opened the doors one by one and stole everything... they stole our prayer books and four crosses... they didn't leave anything. Thank you for your help, we will never forget it."
Israeli officials said the monks said the gunmen had also begun beating and attacking clergymen.
Chances of a breakthrough in the three-week standoff between the IDF and the gunmen holding clergymen and Palestinian civilians hostage inside the church took a more optimistic turn last night, following two meetings between Palestinian Authority and Israeli officials.
Officials are expected to meet for the third time today, an Israeli security official said last night, adding that the talks were conducted in a good atmosphere.
"The Palestinians insist Israel allow the gunmen to be transferred directly to Gaza with an international escort; we insist they lay down their arms and those found to be involved in terrorist activities go on trial in Israel or be deported," he said.
PA officials who participated in the meetings included Imad Natshe, the district coordinating officer; PA Minister of Tourism Mitre Abu Aita, Bethlehem Mayor Hana Nasser, and Salah Ta'amri. Col. Marcel Aviv leads the IDF negotiating team.
Last night, Nasser told The Jerusalem Post a third meeting would take place this afternoon. The atmosphere in which the talks took place was good, he said, but "frankly, there has been no progress. The Israelis are adamant that the gunmen be deported. They don't know the exact number of the gunmen and neither do we. However we insist that the gunmen be taken to Gaza accompanied by a third party.
"If there are accusations against any of them, they can be formally made to the PA court. We cannot agree to their being deported, as it violates the Oslo Accords and sets a terrible precedent.
"We also asked Israel to improve the hygienic situation inside and restore the power and water and food supplies," he said.
Yesterday was the first time that both sides met for direct talks on the issue.
Of the scores of gunmen inside the church, security officials estimate there are at least 20 fugitives affiliated with the Fatah Tanzim and Hamas.
Among them are Ibrahim Abayat, who has planned and organized terrorist activities in the area, and Jihad Ja'ara who, according to witnesses, was shot in the leg when he and the other gunmen commandeered the church.
Israel has stressed that all those who leave the church and are proven not to have been involved in terrorism will be free to return to their homes.
According to reports from those who fled the compound in recent days, there is growing dissent among the gunmen. Food and water supplies are dwindling, and the pressure is mounting, Israeli officials said. Throughout the past weeks, the IDF has given food and medication to the clergy held hostage inside; the other Palestinians held hostage by the gunmen receive water and medication.
Oh, puhleeze! I'm sure they just wanted to pray! < /sarcasm >
If this wasn't the Church of the Nativity, I'd suggest a bunker-buster.
No more chances, no more playing nice, no more being the asses of the "civilized" world.
Gas them. Pipe a non-lethal, skin-absorbed agent into the building and put them asleep. Then remove terrorists, revive priests, execute terrorists, preferrably with lard-lubed bullets.
Could be done in a lazy afternoon.
Why?! Because you support them when they do even greater crimes, THAT'S WHY!
I don't know what their agenda truly is. I think even they don't know it, but I wish they would spend some solitary time to think it through.
This will be spun as Armenians siding with Israel against the Muslims.
Unfortunately, the Israelis aren't ten feet tall. If they were, this would not be going on, period. A few of the Palestinian Authority soldiers (a.k.a. policemen, a.k.a. terrorists) may have already escaped from the compound with sacred loot. As for the Israelis being able to search each of the fighters as they leave the church, we'll see. I'm sure they would love to, but the Palestinian side will probably push hard to not have this as a feature of any deal.
I remember how they only told the part of the story they wanted to tell with their slant. Radio Kiev was more honest and NOT the same bunch.
Today's MediaWhores (TV, most papers, radio news) are so much like the old Radio Moscow it's scary. I pay no attention to them whatsoever.
The best source for news is FreeRepublic.
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