There were 123 Palestinian seeking sanctuary in the Church of the Nativity, protected by Franciscan monks and nuns.
"As long as the root of evil is there, the violence will stay. The root of evil is the Israeli occupation," is how the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Monsignor Michel Sabbah views the situation.
"More important than condemnations, it is action which is necessary," Sabbah said. "We need for the two partners, Israelis and Palestinians, to show their courage and pull out the roots of evil and put an end to the occupation."
The official website of the Israeli Defense Forces: http://www.idf.il/ describes a satisfactory conclusion of the siege of the Church of the Nativity and presents a series of photos of the deported Palestinians, along with photos which the IDF believes prove that the fire was started inside the church and not from outside, as is generally believed.
“After 38 days, the solution to the crisis at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem has been achieved.
”Since the very beginning of this dispute, the Israeli Security Forces conducted negotiations in an effort to liberate the innocent hostages inside the church, and to return the church itself to its legal owners, while using all measures to preserve the respect and dignity of the location and the priests.”
"As long as the root of evil is there, the violence will stay. The root of evil is the Israeli occupation," is how the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Monsignor Michel Sabbah views the situation.
"More important than condemnations, it is action which is necessary," Sabbah said. "We need for the two partners, Israelis and Palestinians, to show their courage and pull out the roots of evil and put an end to the occupation."
The official website of the Israeli Defense Forces: http://www.idf.il/ describes a satisfactory conclusion of the siege of the Church of the Nativity and presents a series of photos of the deported Palestinians, along with photos which the IDF believes prove that the fire was started inside the church and not from outside, as is generally believed.
“After 38 days, the solution to the crisis at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem has been achieved.
”Since the very beginning of this dispute, the Israeli Security Forces conducted negotiations in an effort to liberate the innocent hostages inside the church, and to return the church itself to its legal owners, while using all measures to preserve the respect and dignity of the location and the priests.”