Israeli troops have exchanged gunfire with armed Palestinians holed-up inside Bethlehem's Church of Nativity. 

The Israeli military says two soldiers were lightly hurt Monday when shots were fired around the church compound. Palestinian officials say one Palestinian gunman inside the church was wounded. 

The Israeli army surrounded the Church of Nativity, which is one of Christianity's holiest sites, nearly two weeks ago, when a number of armed men took shelter there to avoid arrest when Israeli forces entered Bethlehem. There are about 200 Palestinians in the church compound along with at least 40 members of the clergy. 

On Sunday, Palestinian negotiators rejected an Israeli proposal to end the siege by allowing gunmen in the church to go into permanent exile or face trial in Israel. 

Also Monday, Israel continued its incursion into villages around Bethlehem. Palestinian officials say a man was shot and killed by Israeli troops east of Bethlehem during a raid in search of suspected terrorists. In the village of Doha, southwest of Bethlehem, witnesses say a Palestinian woman was killed inside her home during an Israeli military sweep. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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