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Ten years have passed since the end of the 39-day IDF siege of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, where 39 terrorists had holed up. The siege was ended through an agreement that involved exiling the terrorists to other countries. Bethlehem-based news agency Ma'an says the terrorists now feel "abandoned by the Palestinian Authority and all political factions." They have not been allowed to return to their families in Judea and Samaria, the agency notes. Deportees had planned to demonstrate on Thursday but canceled the protest to support the terrorists on hunger strike in Israeli jails, a spokesman for the...

The pilgrims will be there as midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity is again broadcast live around the world this Christmas Eve -- but the town of Bethlehem is fast losing its last few year-round Christian residents. Christians are fleeing the town of Christ's birth, and the much-reported hardship that Israel inflicts on residents of the West Bank town has little to do with it. It's the same reality across the Arab world: rising Islamism pushes non-Muslims away. Islamists frown on real-estate ownership by non-Muslims -- Christian, Jew or anything else. And though the secular Palestinian Authority still...

The pilgrims will be there as midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity is again broadcast live around the world this Christmas Eve -- but the town of Bethlehem is fast losing its last few year-round Christian residents. Christians are fleeing the town of Christ's birth, and the much-reported hardship that Israel inflicts on residents of the West Bank town has little to do with it. It's the same reality across the Arab world: rising Islamism pushes non-Muslims away. Islamists frown on real-estate ownership by non-Muslims -- Christian, Jew or anything else. And though the secular Palestinian Authority still...

A message to observant Christians, you should know that if there ever is a Palestinian State you can say goodbye to holy sites Church of the Nativity and the Church of the Ascension. Christian holy sites and populations are endangered whenever Palestinians gain control. Christian towns and churches, including the sacred Church of the Nativity, have been used as bases for Palestinian snipers and launching-sites for terrorist attacks. Many historically Christian towns that came under Palestinian control through Oslo — Bethlehem being only the most famous example — quickly lost their Christian majority as those citizens steadily fled Muslim oppression...

Thursday, September 29, 2005 Wanton Destruction in Gaza Bodes Ill for the Future The torching of synagogues and the looting and destruction of greenhouses in Gaza doesn't bode well for a future Palestinian state if one is to ever exist. Indeed, the destruction of those synagogues makes it far more unlikely that Israel will concede areas with important Jewish holy sites in Judea and Samaria. The greenhouses, donated to the Palestinian people by wealthy American Jews who bought them from the former settlers, used to provide Israel with $60 to $100 million in agricultural exports annually. They could have provided...

BETHLEHEM, West Bank, Dec. 20 - In the town where Christians believe Christ was born, the Christians are leaving. Four years of violence, an economic free fall and the Israeli separation barrier have all contributed to the hardships facing Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem, one of the largest concentrations of Christians in the region. An estimated 3,000 Christians in the Bethlehem area have moved abroad since the Palestinian uprising began in 2000, according to Bernard Sabella, an associate professor of sociology at Bethlehem University who has tracked the issue. While some others put the number a bit lower, there is a...

The only Palestinian left in Cyprus following the deal to end the siege of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem feels bitter towards the EU for not fulfilling its promises. He spoke to Michael Jansen in Nicosia. Abdullah Dawoud, the former head of Palestinian intelligence in Bethlehem, wonders whether the European Union can contribute to the resolution of the conflict between the Palestinians and Israel since its member states cannot even agree on a common policy towards the "Nativity 13". During an interview with Al-Ahram Weekly, Dawoud, 41, asked, "Why hasn't the EU been able to make up its mind...

Wed Apr 3, 9:01 AM ETBy CONSTANT BRAND, Associated Press Writer LUXEMBOURG (AP) - Declaring American mediation in the Middle East a failure, the EU executive urged the United States on Wednesday to stand down as primary peacemaker and let a broad alliance of nations mediate a cease-fire and a durable Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. Photos AP Photo The call came as foreign ministers from the European Union (news - web sites) were gathering for an urgent session here about the violence in the Middle East, where Israel has launched a large-scale assault in the West Bank after a string of...

Nativity Update: For Immediate Release: by imc-pal • Friday May 10, 2002 at 06:59 AM Ten Internationals Arrested by Israeli Army Inside Nativity Church in Bethlehem May 10 (Bethlehem) Today at 2:40 pm, the Israeli army stormed the Church of the Nativity and arrested ten internationals, who had risked their lives last week to bring food and medical supplies to the priests, monks and Palestinian citizens held inside the church. Those inside had been reduced to eating grass and leaves until the internationals brought in rice, lentils, salt and other essential foodstuffs. One of the internationals, Mary Kelly - a...

An Appeal from the Greek Catholic School in Bethlehem 19-Apr-02 We the people of Bethlehem the place where Jesus was born are leading very serious and tragic situation as the other parts of Palestine. Injustice has been happening to us since the Israeli invasion of our cities , villages and camps. More than 300 tanks stormed the streets of Bethlehem this holy and peaceful city. Helicopters and tanks destroyed the buildings, burning and running over the cars and anything on their way. There are numbers of martyrs in Bethlehem who need to be buried. Not to mention the serious...

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...

EIT JALA, West Bank, April 8 — A gun battle between Israeli and Palestinian fighters damaged the exterior of the Church of the Nativity today and ignited a fire in an adjoining monastery, scarring one of Christianity's holiest sites as a standoff at the church continued for a sixth day. The fire was quickly extinguished, but both sides confirmed that the exterior of the church suffered damage during an early morning firefight that left one Palestinian policeman dead and two Israeli soldiers seriously wounded. Each side accused the other of firing first.Israeli officials said two Palestinians sneaked out of...

BETHLEHEM, West Bank, May 10 (Reuters) - The stench of urine was the first thing that hit visitors who entered the Church of the Nativity on Friday at the end of a 38-day standoff between Palestinian militants and the Israeli army. But the grotto marking the spot where Christian faithful believe Jesus was born was "pristine", said a journalist who toured the Bethlehem shrine built in the 4th century. "When you first walked in the door, it stank," said Anne Garrels of the U.S. National Public Radio network, one of the first reporters who priests allowed into the church after...

Full Coverage In-depth coverage about Mideast Conflict Related News Stories · First Palestinians finally leave Church of the Nativity - Australian Broadcasting Corporation (May 10, 2002) · Palestinians Leaving Nativity Church - Associated Press (May 10, 2002) · Bush: Arafat Must Quell Doubts Over His Leadership - Reuters (May 9, 2002) · Israel Calls Up Military Reservists - Associated Press (May 9, 2002) · Cyprus Offers Bethlehem Militants Transit Stopover - Reuters (May 9, 2002) More... Opinion & Editorials · Now, Hamas - Newsday (May 9, 2002) · Time's Up, Yasser - NY Post (May 9, 2002) · A...

Sweden will not take part in a deal to solve the crisis around the church of Nativity in Bethlehem. The governement does not want to receive any of the 13 Palestinian ”wanted terrorists” who are in the church, says foreign minister Anna Lindh. Everything seemed ”in principle” ready for a deal so that Israel’s five week long siege of the church of Nativity could be lifted. Ariel Sharon and Yassir Arafat had agreed that the 13 Palestinian militia men should be exiled, 26 men should be tried in a Palestinian court in Gaza, and the rest of the almost 200...

Breaking - A Deal Reached to End Standoff at Church of the Nativity Per FOX News Channel Breaking News announcement. I will post further updates, if any from FOX News Channel........ Anyone else see this or other report from another news outlet?

ARAFAT SET FREE; CHURCH SET ON FIRE: Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat defiantly left his Ram'Allah compound Thursday for the first time in over a month following the IDF's withdrawal on Wednesday night. Arafat toured Ram'Allah in the morning and told Palestinians that the first priority was to rebuild the Palestinian cities. Arafat called the Beit Lechem siege a "religious crime" [It was the PLO that burst into the church and held the hostages in the church, not the IDF--ed]. Meanwhile, in a clearly orchestrated move, at the very same time that the military blockade was lifted on Arafat in...

By Amos Harel and Anat Cygielman, Ha'aretz Correspondents, and agencies Last update 18:40 An IDF soldier sustained light-to-moderate wounds Wednesday during an exchange of fire with Palestinians in at the entrance to Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, as talks attempting to resolve the standoff in the holy site resumed. After the gun battle, which lasted a quarter of an hour, the soldier was evacuated for medical treatment to Hadassah University Hospital in Ein Karem, Jerusalem. Earlier Wednesday, IDF troops shot and seriously wounded a Palestinian who came out of the Church of the Nativity, hours before the talks were toAn...

Straight Talk From The President In face of the world's demand to investigate Israel's behavior during the Jenin battles, President Moshe Katzav had this to say today: "With all due respect to self-righteousness, the international community must stop applying a double-standard. I do not understand why the world community has been silent for over one and a half years in the face of the cruel and brutal massacres that have been perpetrated against the Jewish population throughout the country. "The world has been silent even as terrorists have taken over the Church of the Nativity, looted it and desecrated it....

PALESTINE: Corpses may have to be buried in Bethlehem church. By Michael Georgy   08:16 ET Reuters English News Service (C) Reuters Limited 2002. BETHLEHEM, West Bank, April 24 (Reuters) - A Palestinian negotiator said on Wednesday people trapped in Bethlehem's besieged Church of the Nativity would soon have to bury two corpses in its compound unless Israel agreed to their removal."I am afraid the people inside will be forced to bury them in the church if the Israelis don't allow for burial outside. They are decomposing," the negotiator, Palestinian legislator Salah Taamari, told Reuters. "We told this to...

Priests Escape Church, Talk of "Shocking Sights" A meeting between Israelis and PA officials regarding the Bethlehem Nativity Church standoff is being held today, for first time. Three Armenian priests managed to reach a roof of the church this morning, holding a large sign reading, "Help Us." The army noticed them and helped them escape. The priests told of "shocking sights" inside the church, including the beating by terrorists of some Christian clergy last night. Six Arabs, including one armed gunmen, escaped from the building last night; a gunfight ensued with the armed terrorist, but all of them escaped into...

Palestinian Gunmen Ransacking Church By Anat Cygielman, Ha'aretz Correspondent and The Associated Press Reports emerged of the growing distress of clerics inside the church. Two monks managed to climb onto one of the roofs inside the church compound Tuesday, and raised a sign saying "Please Save Us". IDF sources said three Armenian monks who escaped the compound described "shocking scenes" from within the church. They said that Palestinian gunmen had begun beating some of the monks Monday night and had stolen a number of gold artifacts from the church. A press conference, in which the three monks are expected to...

What Is The Real Story Around The Church Of Nativity? 22-Apr-02 Ghassan Andoni It is amazing how much one can twist facts. But more amazing is how much people can be influenced by twisted facts. In relation to the Church of Nativity, two stories are being widely circulated. The Israeli story: a large group of armed "terrorists" entered the Church of Nativity. They took dozens of civilians including Christian priests and monks as hostages and are using them as human shields to launch attacks on the Israeli army, which is surrounding the place. Therefore, Israel is attempting to rescue...

PALESTINE: Besieged in Bethlehem church say food runs short. By Michael Georgy   16:35 ET Reuters English News Service (C) Reuters Limited 2002. BETHLEHEM, West Bank, April 20 (Reuters) - Besieged civilians in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity said on Saturday they were almost out of food while the Israeli army was reinforcing positions around the holy site."Tomorrow we will have nothing left to eat. The situation has become very dire and difficult," a Palestinian policeman inside the church said by telephone. The army encircled the church, built where Jesus is thought to have been born, three weeks ago...

The Vatican has issued a stern warning to Israel to respect religious sites in line with its international obligations, following a gun battle around Bethlehem's besieged Church of the Nativity. Spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the Vatican was following events "with extreme apprehension" and trying to establish the truth about the fighting that flared early on Monday. This is an act of indescribable barbarity, a violation of every law of humanity and civilisation Father David Jaeger Franciscan spokesman Israel says its troops are under orders not to fire at holy places and blamed Palestinian militants for a fire near the church,...

BETHLEHEM, April 8: Israeli forces fired shots at the Church of the Nativity on Monday during fighting with Palestinian gunmen in Bethlehem, and a fire briefly broke out in the church compound. One Palestinian policeman was killed during the shooting, Bethlehem governor Mohammed al-Madani said. The blaze in the offices of a monastery inside the church compound was quickly put out. Each side blamed the other for firing the opening shot near the church. Madani said Israeli soldiers in the municipality building 100 metres to the west and gunners in two tanks to the south were shooting at the church....

Why isn't the PLO seizing perhaps the most sacred Christian site a big deal worthy of a huge amount of violence directed at the Arab people? hmmmm. I know the answer but the reason (cited by the whack jobs) for the current 18 months of nonstop violence has been the Temple Visit by Sharon. Which was known in advance and authorized by Jibril Rajoub, the head of the Palestinian Authority's Preventive Security service. Rajoub even stated there would be no reaction. Does the seizing of the Church of Nativity by the PLO justify a bloody campaign of nonstop terror against...

MIDDLE EAST, 4 APR 2002 (13:45) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAYOR OF BETHLEHEM: ISRAELI MILITARY FORCES ENTER CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY (BRIEF, POLITICS/ECONOMY) The Mayor of Bethlehem, Hanna Nasser confirmed that the Israeli military forces have entered the Church of the Nativity. In an interview to MISNA. Hanna Nasser confirmed that he had spoken over the phone with the governor Muhammad al Madani, who is presently barricaded inside the Basilica: “He told me that Israeli soldiers have penetrated inside the Church of the Nativity”. “For two days Israeli soldiers have been occupying my office – continued Nasser – the situation is worsening and...