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Posted by N on April 4, 2002, 5:10:23 By Arieh O'Sullivan and Haim Shapiro (AP) BETHLEHEM (April 4) - Israeli tanks and infantry battled with Palestinian gunmen, some dressed as Israeli soldiers, in and around Bethlehem's Manger Square yesterday. The troops drove back the gunmen until about 200 shot their way into the ancient Church of the Nativity, built over the reputed birthplace of Jesus, to seek refuge. The standoff sparked running negotiations between Israel and the gunmen through the Vatican. The army said the Palestinians continued to shoot from the church throughout the day. At least 10 gunmen were reportedly wounded inside the church. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's media adviser, Ra'anan Gissin, said Israel is making every effort to resolve the situation without bloodshed. But he blamed the Palestinians for violating the holy site's sanctity. "Because of our military operation, they return to their old practice of trying to use and abuse churches and holy sites in Bethlehem as a refuge and as a place from which they can conduct their attacks against our forces," he told AP. Elsewhere, a group of Tanzim gunmen took over the Santa Maria Church and held the priests and nuns there against their will, the IDF Spokesman said. "The terrorists used the church as a position to shoot at Israeli soldiers, but the soldiers refrained from firing at the church," the army said. The commander of the IDF task force in Bethlehem entered the church yesterday and took the clergy to a safer place, after the gunmen had slipped away undetected. However, the gunmen left behind the body of a comrade, who had been shot in the head. A tank was positioned at the edge of Manger Square. Bethlehem Mayor Hana Nasser said soldiers had taken over the municipality building overlooking the square and the church. "We in the IDF understand the symbolism of Bethlehem to the people of the world," said Col. Miri Eisen, a senior IDF intelligence officer. "That is why the chief of General Staff has given a direct order to the forces fighting in Bethlehem to hold fire on religious structures." Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah told Israel TV that there were mediation efforts underway to solve the crisis. "We heard informally that the Israelis have taken a decision not to storm the church, which will be very wise," he said. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said Israel had "no intention to break into any church," but army officials said those inside would not be allowed to go free. At least a dozen Palestinians were killed in the Bethlehem area over the past two days and reporters said the bodies of four gunmen were still lying on a side street near Manger Square. The diplomatic representative of the Holy See, Papal Nuncio Pietro Sambi, noted last night the basilica is a sensitive and holy place and expressed the hope that a way could be found to avoid fighting. "I would suggest patience and a way to solve the present situation that did not involve fighting, which could cause damage, but rather through negotiations," he said. Sambi added that he hopes "this presence" in Bethlehem could be ended as soon as possible, because the situation of the residents of Bethlehem is painful, with shortages of food and other necessities. A convoy of armored vehicles yesterday evacuated five Italian journalists and a group of other foreigners - including Americans and Britons - from the town. The Italian journalists and an Armenian colleague were with the Palestinian gunmen in the compound of the Church of the Nativity. One of the Italian journalists, RAI TV correspondent Marc Innaro, estimated there were about 300 gunmen inside the church compound, along with some civilians seeking refuge from the fighting. "They were very determined, not nervous, tired also, but not willing at all to surrender," Innaro told The Associated Press. Innaro said a convoy of armored vehicles from the Italian Embassy, escorted by the IDF, evacuated the journalists from the town. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said there is a proposal for European foreign ministers to intervene, and it "must be paid attention to." He said a high-level European Union delegation might be sent to the Mideast, but Israel must give them permission to meet Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and so far the permission has not been given. The other foreigners were at the Bethlehem Star Hotel, near Manger Square, the town's main plaza, and US federal police and other security officials evacuated them in a five-vehicle convoy, witnesses said. Wearing flak jackets and sidearms, the US officers rushed into the hotel and used a loudspeaker to call the some 15 foreigners to come out. The forces were equipped with a list of the people they were to evacuate, witnesses said. Among those taken out was Kunle Ibidun, 30, from Bristol, England, who was wounded in a demonstration two days ago. The same day, Ibidun found out his father had died of a stroke in England, and he has been trying to get out of Bethlehem since then, said Sean Riordan, an American in Bethlehem. (News agencies contributed to this report.) ------------------------------------------------------------- - Compound covers 12,000 square metres - Current church built in 6th century Link: the Jerusalem Post
Battle rages around Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity. 
Smoke billows around Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity.
- Originally erected in the 4th century, but destroyed in the 6th century
Star marks Jesus Christ's birthplace
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