wfn.org | Papal Envoy Praises Israelis, Palestinians and Negotiators

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For information, contatct:
Fr. Raed Abusahlia
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
P.O.Box  14152 - Jerusalem 97500
E-mail address: latinpat@actcom.co.il
Patriarchate's Homepage: www.lpj.org

BETHLEHEM, May 10, 2002 -- The papal envoy who was deeply involved in the
negotiations here and in Rome, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the
39-day siege of Bethlehem4s Basilica of the Nativity, which ended this
morning.

     Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, the man John Paul II sent here to help work
out a solution, was pleased with the final agreement on the fate of 13
Palestinians  who are considered terrorists by Israel.

     "All the participants in this obstacle course must be congratulated for
the success achieved," the cardinal told the Rome-based Zenit news agency.

     However, "much remains to be done to reach a just and permanent peace,
not only in Bethlehem, but in the entire Holy Land," he said. "The road will
be long; the determined solidarity of all men and all peoples will be
necessary to go forward."

     Early this morning, the bus transporting 13 Palestinians to exile left
the square in front of the basilica, bringing to an end the siege by the
Israeli army that began April 2 after armed and unarmed Palestinians entered
the historic site.

     The 13 were put on a flight to Cyprus, to be transported later to
several countries, including Spain, Greece, Italy, Canada, Austria and
Luxembourg.

     An additional 26 Palestinians, considered by the Israeli army to be of
"medium danger," will be confined in the Gaza Strip.

     Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio in Israel and apostolic
delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine, confirmed the decisive role of mediation
played by Cardinal Etchegaray in a statement broadcast by the Vatican Radio.

     According to Archbishop Sambi, the cardinal "was of decisive importance
in making almost visible John Paul II's daily concern, his word, his prayer
to reach a solution to the problem of Bethlehem."

     The Papal Envoy "succeeded in making it visible not only to the
Christian world of the Holy Land, and to the universal Christian world, but
also to the Israeli and Palestinian authorities," said the archbishop, who
was the cardinal's host last week.

     During his stay, Cardinal Etchegaray met with Israeli President Moshe
Katsav and with President Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian National
Authority.

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