BETHLEHEM, Apr 9, 02 (FIDES/CWNews.com) - Christian leaders in Jerusalem received assurances from Israeli government officials during a Monday night meeting on the situation in Bethlehem. But Franciscan friars inside the Church of the Nativity reported that the actions of the Israeli army did not match the government rhetoric.
Rabbi Michael Melchior, Israel's deputy foreign minister, told a delegation of Christian leaders that the government would try to defuse the tension in Bethlehem, and offer humanitarian support for the friars inside the church.
However, the Fides news service observed that Israeli military officials announced plans to make life difficult for the people inside the Church of the Nativity-- a policy which would, by necessity, cause difficulties for the 40 Franciscans and 20 Orthodox monks still inside the building.
For a week, the monks have been kept inside the Church of the Nativity, without fresh water or food. Their provisions are now apparently exhausted, and the Israeli blockade has prevented the arrival of new supplies.
Moreover, the body of a young Church worker who was shot and killed on Monday has not been removed from the Franciscan monastery adjacent to the shrine. Israeli soldiers would not allow the friars to return the man's body to his family for burial.
Fides also reported that the elite Israeli anti-terrorism unit Yamam was in action at the Bethlehem shrine. And on Radio Israel, military correspondent Roni Daniel announced that "YAMAM forces were inside the holy place taking part in the operations." Some Franciscans worry that Israeli soldiers are already inside the church complex, preparing for an assault.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has issued an order to the 200 gunmen inside the church that they should not surrender. And Israeli military officials insist that the Palestinians must surrender before the siege on the church is lifted.
Father David Jaeger, a spokesman for the Franciscan custodians of the Bethlehem shrine, told Fides that "the only ray of hope for the besieged friars comes from the words of the Pope and initiatives by the Holy See.... We hope that the national leaders will let themselves be guided by God."
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9. april 2002