| Submit your comments on this article |
| Middle East |
| Palestinians Say Church Talks 'Constructive' |
| 2002-04-23 |
| The first direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators on a standoff at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity ended Tuesday, and Palestinian negotiators said they had made progress. "We are close to an agreement, we hope," Palestinian legislator Salah Taamari told reporters after the talks. "The talks were constructive," Bethlehem mayor Hanna Nasser said. "We heard many offers. They will be materialized at 6 o'clock," he added without elaborating. "Constructive" means the Israelis brought lunch. With no chow on the premises, why are they bothering to negotiate? Israeli and Palestinian officials met twice Tuesday near the Bethlehem church marking the birthplace of Jesus Christ, where hundreds of Palestinians, including around 30 militants wanted by Israel, have been under siege since April 2. But they failed to make tangible progress after Israel rejected a Palestinian proposal to send suspected militants for trial in the Gaza Strip. The two sides agreed to meet again Wednesday at 4:00 pm (1300 GMT) and the Palestinians said they would release four civilians for medical treatment. They also requested that the Israelis supply food and water to the church, a request Israel quickly rejected, chief Palestinian negotiator Salah al-Taamari said. "Duh. Okay. We'll give 'em food and water. Duh, when do you think they'll be ready to come out?" They buy that one, betcha they'd pull Yasser's finger, too. Shortly before the first meeting, two Armenian monks and a priest made a daring escape from the church, where food and water are said to have run out, according to the Armenian patriarchate. Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Olivier Rafowicz told AFP the three men reported the situation inside the church as "terrible," adding that many civilians wanted to escape but were being held hostage by the militants. Terrible, the way those priests and monks and nuns took those men hostage. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |