NewsMine — war-on-terror — israel — hostilities — 2002 — 02-4-siege-apr — Viewing Item

Bethlehem church { April 16 2002 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://webcenter.newssearch.netscape.com/aolns_display.adp?key=200204160912000299760_aolns.src http://webcenter.newssearch.netscape.com/aolns_display.adp?key=200204160912000299760_aolns.src Reuters Tuesday, April 16, 2002 Pope telephones Franciscans in Bethlehem church ROME (Reuters) - Pope John Paul has telephoned Franciscan monks holed up in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem to express his solidarity with them, the Vatican said Tuesday. Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the Pope spoke Monday afternoon to Father Ibrahim Faltas, Catholic head of the shrine. "The Pope thanked them for their Christian witness and sent them his blessing in this moment of particular difficulty," the statement said. Israeli soldiers have surrounded the church which Christians believe stands on the site of the birthplace of Jesus, for about two weeks in a standoff with about 100 Palestinians inside. They include gunmen and dozens of Christian clerics. "The monks were extremely pleased by this extraordinary gesture. This was not a media opportunity. The Pope does not call people every day," said Father David Jaeger, spokesman for the Franciscan custodians of Holy Land sites. Israel has said it has no intention of storming the church, and has proposed a deal under which the gunmen would surrender and be tried in a military court or go into exile "forever." The Palestinian governor of Bethlehem, who is among those inside the sanctuary, has rejected the plan.

16 killed { March 5 2002 } Arafat emerges { May 2 2002 } Attacked reporters Bethlehem church { April 16 2002 } Bethlehem gun fire { October 22 2001 } Church sniper { April 4 2002 } Church sniper2 Gaza strip alone { May 10 2002 } Gaza strip { May 10 2002 } Gunfire nativity Hrw israel0502 [pdf] Inquiry blocked { April 24 2002 } Israel cancels bethlehem withdrawal Israel pullout1 Israel pullout2 { April 16 2002 } Israel pullout3 { April 16 2002 } Israel pullout4 Israeli jenin film { July 25 2002 } Jenin atrocities Jenin massacre { April 18 2002 } Jenin warcrimes { April 22 2002 } Journalist killed Journalists { April 2 2002 } Mary { March 14 2002 } Monks nativity Nativity lies { April 3 2002 } Nativity Nativity2 Pa vandal Plans big assault { March 25 2002 } Priest1 Priest2 Rally for pullout { May 12 2002 } Revoked journalists Revoked journalists2 Shells navity { October 22 2001 } Un calls withdrawl Un israel { April 15 2002 } Un jenin report { August 1 2002 } Un report flawed { August 2 2002 } Westbank brokendreams { May 7 2002 } Files Listed: 41

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