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| Middle East |
| Eight of nine church kiddies sent home |
| 2002-04-26 |
| Eight of the nine youths who walked out of the Church of the Nativity after 23 days of siege were allowed to go home this morning, but one is being kept in custody while the IDF investigates suspicions he was involved in militant activities. Military officials said suspicions that one teenager had helped plant explosives during the 19-month Israeli-Palestinian fighting had delayed the release of all nine, and the group had been kept overnight at a military camp. The nine, ages 14 to 20, left the church, bringing with them two rotting corpses, in an agreement with the Israelis that signaled an easing of the prolonged standoff. Palestinian officials said the Israelis were still holding Hamza el-Hmur, 16, a resident of the Deheishe refugee camp outside Bethlehem. IDF officials said the youth would be further interrogated, and may be released if his offenses were deemed minor. Earlier today, a Palestinian negotiator threatened to freeze the negotiations unless the nine were freed to their homes. Guess Mr Negotiator wasn't in the church when he started throwing his weight around. It's always easier to tell the troops at the front to fight to the last man and the last bullet when you're safe in |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |