\"Much of the world has yet to accept the notion that Palestinian gunmen are holding Christian priests and nuns hostage inside,\" states the International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem. The reference is to a nine-day standoff between Israeli forces and armed Arabs inside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
ICEJ quoted a Christian soldier in the IDF, presently stationed near the confrontation site, who dismissed claims that the Israeli forces have been vandalizing homes and properties. He said that the soldiers are under strict orders \"not to shoot at the Church under any circumstances, even if shot at, nor at monks, even if armed, but only at armed Palestinians who exit the Church.\" He further said that the terrorists \"test\" the soldiers by sending out monks with guns in their hands so as to get the Israelis to shoot at the clergy. The terrorists allow the monks back in after a short while.
\"The confrontation on Manger Square is but a microcosm of the dire situation facing the Arab Christian minority under Muslim rule in this historic town,\" ICEJ writes. The IDF unit continues to find bombs planted everywhere, mostly in garbage cans and in bottles. The soldier said that there is also a fear of Palestinian snipers, who continue to fire Kalachnikovs from the Church and other buildings in the complex even as most of the fighting dies down. Yesterday, a monk was shot and seriously wounded; the IDF investigated and found that he was likely shot by errant IDF fire.
ICEJ noted that although a couple of the local clerics inside have been quoted as saying the gunmen had been \"welcomed into the Church\" and \"were not holding them against their will,\" the world took no notice that these statements were made by clerics who feared that \"one wrong word to the outside world could cost them dearly.\"
When four clerics were finally released from the Church over the weekend, Israeli authorities said they confirmed the Christians inside were not receptive to the armed Palestinian intrusion, and did not willingly give them sanctuary. But as this news hit the wires, ICEJ reported, some local church leaders tried to backtrack once more, presumably to protect their colleagues inside.
The ICEJ also noted that a Catholic spokesman\'s statement this week charging Israel with \"an act of indescribable barbarity\" was based on Palestinian claims of IDF shooting at the Church - claims that were denied by most Israeli media.
IDF officials continue to maintain that the priests and nuns inside have said they are being held hostage by the gunmen - who hail from the Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah Tanzim terror militias, and many of whom have been directly or indirectly involved in the murder of Israelis. \"As this standoff continues,\" concludes the ICEJ report, \"it will be interesting to see how long it takes for all to realize that the Christians trapped inside the Church of the Nativity have a Muslim gun to their heads - the same one they have been under for years.\"
ICEJ quoted a Christian soldier in the IDF, presently stationed near the confrontation site, who dismissed claims that the Israeli forces have been vandalizing homes and properties. He said that the soldiers are under strict orders \"not to shoot at the Church under any circumstances, even if shot at, nor at monks, even if armed, but only at armed Palestinians who exit the Church.\" He further said that the terrorists \"test\" the soldiers by sending out monks with guns in their hands so as to get the Israelis to shoot at the clergy. The terrorists allow the monks back in after a short while.
\"The confrontation on Manger Square is but a microcosm of the dire situation facing the Arab Christian minority under Muslim rule in this historic town,\" ICEJ writes. The IDF unit continues to find bombs planted everywhere, mostly in garbage cans and in bottles. The soldier said that there is also a fear of Palestinian snipers, who continue to fire Kalachnikovs from the Church and other buildings in the complex even as most of the fighting dies down. Yesterday, a monk was shot and seriously wounded; the IDF investigated and found that he was likely shot by errant IDF fire.
ICEJ noted that although a couple of the local clerics inside have been quoted as saying the gunmen had been \"welcomed into the Church\" and \"were not holding them against their will,\" the world took no notice that these statements were made by clerics who feared that \"one wrong word to the outside world could cost them dearly.\"
When four clerics were finally released from the Church over the weekend, Israeli authorities said they confirmed the Christians inside were not receptive to the armed Palestinian intrusion, and did not willingly give them sanctuary. But as this news hit the wires, ICEJ reported, some local church leaders tried to backtrack once more, presumably to protect their colleagues inside.
The ICEJ also noted that a Catholic spokesman\'s statement this week charging Israel with \"an act of indescribable barbarity\" was based on Palestinian claims of IDF shooting at the Church - claims that were denied by most Israeli media.
IDF officials continue to maintain that the priests and nuns inside have said they are being held hostage by the gunmen - who hail from the Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah Tanzim terror militias, and many of whom have been directly or indirectly involved in the murder of Israelis. \"As this standoff continues,\" concludes the ICEJ report, \"it will be interesting to see how long it takes for all to realize that the Christians trapped inside the Church of the Nativity have a Muslim gun to their heads - the same one they have been under for years.\"