{short description of image}
help-for-you News . PRT03-1Article.html 1
  Note the UTC time and source of information. Pictures may be added
.   News for Fri. 03 May to Sun. 05 May 2002

BREAKING NEWS: Sun 05/PM. Apparently an agreement has been reached and the siege will have ended with the appearance on the scene of the Palestine police. The police are to search the church for arms and also move the terrorists (Palestinians wanted by Israel) from the church. Arrangements have also been made to move some of the terrorists to Gaza and a few to Italy.


End to Bethlehem Siege Might Be Near


VOA News
5 May 2002 00:27 UTC
Email this article to a friend.Printer Friendly Version

AP Photo
AP
a Palestinian family looks out over Manger Square in front of the Church of the Nativity
As Orthodox Christians begin celebrating Easter Sunday, Palestinian and western officials say they believe the month-long standoff at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem may be nearing an end.

 European and U.S. diplomats have joined Israeli and Palestinian officials in renewed high-level talks on ending the siege.
 
 

Graphic Image
Witnesses say an E.U. diplomat entered the church compound Saturday night for the first time to pick up a list of names of the estimated 200 Palestinians holed up inside.

 Israeli officials have demanded the list as one of their conditions for ending the standoff. They say some of the Palestinians inside the church are wanted by Israel and took up refuge there to avoid capture when Israeli troops rolled into the West Bank town April 2.

 Christians around the world have been praying for a peaceful end to the standoff. Religious tradition says the church was built on the site where Jesus Christ was born.

 Israeli snipers killed a Palestinian inside the compound Saturday. They say the man was a wanted terrorist from Yasser Arafat's Fatah group. Israeli soldiers also killed another Palestinian who they say fired at them at an army roadblock in the Gaza Strip.

 Also Saturday, Israeli troops found what they call a Palestinian bomb factory in Bethlehem, just several hundred meters from the Church of the Nativity. They showed reporters bags of gunpowder and other bomb-making equipment.

 The new developments came as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon prepared to leave for Washington for talks with President Bush.

Email this article to a friend.
Printer Friendly Version
World events are historic steps in the purpose and plan of God. The outcome of history is up to man - restricted only by sovereign limits imposed by God. The future events are consequences resulting from mankind exercising the gift of intelligence and free will in response to situations developing from past events. This human response is either synchronized to His Will or in rebellion to His Will. Behavior is either the manifestation of love or it's opposite - hate. As Christians we should be involved through loving (caring attitude and behavior for others) actions empowered by prayer, understanding, and submission to His Will.