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Middle East
What's up with the church siege...
2002-04-06
  • Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Tanzim terrorists are inside the church.
  • An ultimatum was not given to the church personnel
  • In no way did we fire at the church
  • Concerning explosions - there was a building housing armed Palestinians near the church. IDF forces blew in the door of the building and not that of the church. Essentially, IDF forces did not detonate anything in the church.
  • IDF forces communicated with both the Palestinian political echelon and the heads of the terrorist infrastructures, in order to attempt to get the people out. They were offered medical assistance, medicines, doctors and food, but they refused.
  • In terms of the IDF, we would like to get the people out unharmed and we have patience. We have no desire to damage the church or any other holy institution in the city.

    The IDF secured the release of four clergymen from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The IDF transported the four, at their request, to Jerusalem, where they arrived safe and sound. It was clear from their testimony that the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem has been forcibly seized by a group of armed terrorists who have taken hostages, among them members of the clergy, inside the church building.

    According to a reliable source, those occupying the church complex include various PA officials, such as Governor Muhamad Al-Maadani, Abdallah Daud, Head of the General Intelligence Service, and Majdi Al-Matri, Commander of the Preventive Security Service. In addition to them, some of the "most wanted" of Palestinians terror suspects have also taken refuge in the church. IDF views these circumstances as a hostage scenario.
    With the possible exception of Zimbabwe, this might be the only "government" in the world where they take hostages...
    • Posted by:Fred Pruitt

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