gelatik
16.05.02, 23:35
In a predawn raid on March 14, Israeli tank shells slammed into the Church of
the Nativity,
the holy site of the birthplace of Jesus Christ, slicing off the hands and nose
of the Virgin
Mary statue.
The church, which also houses a hospital and orphanage, sustained a barrage of
bullets
and artillery including a tank shell, which punched a bowling ball-sized hole
from Israeli
tanks, stationed less than 50 meters away. Sister Sophie, the nun in charge of
the
compound, moved patients within the church hospital to a safer locale. These
included
maternity patients in labor and just delivered.
The statue of the Virgin Mary remained standing atop the two centuries old
church amidst
all the shelling but this was only the beginning of the atrocities. Israeli
Occupation troops
began laying siege to Bethlehem, March 29th and the daily serenity, which lies
over the
holy city, was replaced by an eerie quiet. More than 50 Israeli tanks have
invaded the
Manger Square, located in front of the infamous site of Jesus Christ’s birth.
Inside the
church are more than 260 Palestinian asylum seekers, in search of safety from
the soldiers
of the Israeli Occupation Forces. The priests and nuns are remaining inside as
a show of
solidarity, although the Israeli press is accusing the Palestinians of holding
them hostage.
Tanks barrel through the streets of Bethlehem, announcing by loudspeaker that a
curfew
has been imposed and anyone found in the streets would be shot. While at the
same time,
Israeli radio has made false allegations that those seeking refuge were armed
militiamen,
although church elders testified that they are old women, men, and children,
unarmed
innocents and under the protection of the church.
Water mains have been destroyed, thereby depriving the diocese of water
supply. Food
and medical supplies are not being allowed delivery to the holy sanctuaries in
an effort to
starve people out. Naturally, normal traffic is impossible, as Israeli
checkpoints have
denied entry into Bethlehem, even to human rights groups, ambulances, and the
press.
One of the first tragic casualties of the Israeli siege was the murder of the
45 year old,
mentally disabled the Church of the Nativity when he was struck by a bullet to
the chest.
Samer Ibrahim Salman, a Palestinian Christian, who has been the bell ringer and
caretaker
of the abbey for the past 30 years, was on his way to ring the morning bell on
March 29th,
when Israeli army snipers hit him.
Archbishop John P. Foley, a senior Vatican official, declared on April 5th,
that the violent
developments and deaths in Bethlehem “must break (the Pope’s) heart.”
Israeli Occupation Forces, (IOF), have destroyed the gate leading to the Milk
Grotto of the
Church of the Nativity and blown off the rear entrance to the main building.
They have
justified these blasphemous actions by making their false allegations as to the
quality of
persons seeking asylum. Raanan Gissen, spokesman for the office of Ariel
Sharon told
reporters in defense of the IOF’s actions that Palestinians, “use churches and
other holy
places to conduct attacks on our forces.” The Vatican called for a negotiated
solution and
sharply criticized Israel for what it called humiliating treatment of
Palestinians. Meanwhile,
Israeli Occupation troops prevented a delegation of senior Christian clergymen,
amongst
them the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbagh, from entering
Bethlehem. These
holy men had been intent upon mediating a peaceful end to the standoff at the
Church of
the Nativity but were stopped by the Israeli soldiers aggression.
Further acts of aggression upon Christianity
Israeli gunfire has caused damage to the face of the Church of the Nativity and
has set fire
to the parish building in front of the basilica. Father David Jaeger,
spokesman for Catholic
sites in the Holy Land called the Israeli invasion of Palestinian lands, “an
act of
indescribable barbarity” as well as “a violation of every law of humanity and
civilization.”
Furthermore, he stressed that Israel, through it’s action had broken the
covenant with the
Holy See and the consequences would be “long-term and incalculable.”
The Russian Orthodox Church has reported that a hospice used by pilgrims to the
holy city
of Bethlehem has been taken over by the Israeli Occupation forces prompting
strong
protest from Moscow by Russian Orthodox patriarch, Aleksy II.
A Palestinian, who was trying to put out a fire started by Israeli troops at
St. Katherine’s
Church, was shot to death for his humanitarian attempts.
Three groups of Israeli Occupation Forces have entered the Evangelical Lutheran
Christmas Church in Bethlehem. Reverend Dr. Mitri Raheb alerted the bishop in
Jerusalem, Bishop Dr. Munib Younan, who called Israeli military, government,
and
diplomatic corps demanding that soldiers be removed from church property.
Soldiers went
from room to room for nearly 2 hours, breaking into offices and holding the
Reverend
hostage. Mary E. Jensen, communications assistant for the church testified to
this and
reported that the gift shop of the church had been damaged by 2 tank shells and
could not
be secured.
The Church of Our Lady Fatima has been invaded simultaneously, Father Magdi
Siryani
reported. Father Siryani gave testimony as to the damage of the surrounding
the church
property from heavy artillery and tanks. Israeli forces are refusing any food,
medical or
water supplies to the men, women, and children inside. “Dozens and dozens of
churches
are full of people who have just fled this terror,” said Father Siryani.
