wfn.org | Israel Tells Pope: No compromise at Nativity Church

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For Information, contact:
Fr. Raed Abusahlia
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
P.O.Box  14152 - Jerusalem 97500
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JERUSALEM, APRIL 10, 2002 -- Israeli President Moshe Katsav has notified Pope 
John Paul II that the Israeli army will continue its siege of the Basilica of 
the Nativity until the Palestinians holed up there surrender. 

According to the Zenit news agency, the text of a letter from Katsav to John 
Paul II was published this afternoon by the Israeli Embassy in the Vatican. 

"We have no alternative but to prevent armed Palestinian terrorists, who have 
murdered innocent Jews and taken refuge in a holy Christian sanctuary, from 
escaping and continuing their acts of bloodshed," the president states in his 
letter. 

Representatives of all the Christian Churches in the Holy Land had requested 
the organization of an internationally protected convoy to enable the 200 
Palestinians to come out of the basilica.  Many of them are policemen and 
militiamen who have taken refuge in the sacred place. 

Katsav explained that ending the siege by giving the gunmen safe conduct 
would "constitute a grave danger to public safety," and Israel has "no choice 
but to maintain our presence in the immediate area." 

Over 30 Franciscan religious, several Franciscan nuns, and six Armenian monks 
are also locked in their residences at the basilica.   One monk was seriously 
wounded by gunfire today. 

Israel's president explained that his country's forces are under orders not 
to fire on churches.  They intend "to extricate these Palestinian terrorists 
unharmed from the church," he wrote. But the troops will "continue to refrain 
from taking actions that may harm the church or its clergy," he added. 
 
Franciscan clergy have called for worldwide prayers to end the stalmate and 
to protect the lives of all involved.

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