International

Israeli forces storm church?

By Kesava Menon

Palestinian Al-Adhemy family have dinner by lamp light in their home on the seventh day of the Israeli military operation in Ramallah on Thursday. The city is without electric power or running water and is running low on food supplies. — Reuters

Manama (Bahrain) April 4. Palestinian fighters inside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem have said Israeli forces had blown open the back door, leaving only a corridor separating them from the soldiers.

More than 100 Palestinian police and militiamen are reported to be inside the church — believed by Christians to mark the birthplace of Christ.

An Israeli spokesman denied it had stormed the church and denounced the Palestinian claims as a "baseless lie".

The veracity of either side's statement cannot be verified independently as the media has been barred from the area near the shrine.

However, journalists in the city have reported that they heard explosions from near the area of the shrine.

If Israel has indeed mounted an attack on the Church of the Nativity it will add to the growing international concern over the Israeli action.

Earlier in the day, Israel snubbed the European Union's special delegation by denying it permission to visit the Palestinian Authority president, Yasser Arafat.

The E.U. delegation met Israel's Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon and other leaders but was told that it would not be allowed to meet Mr. Arafat until the military operations were completed.

Since Mr. Sharon has also said the operations will continue till the "terrorist infrastructure" in the Palestinian territories is dismantled, the ban on visiting Mr. Arafat is likely to stay in place for some time to come.

It is unclear how Israel will deal with a similar request by the U.S. special envoy, Anthony Zinni. The U.S. envoy has reportedly said that he could not play the role of a mediator when he was not allowed to meet both sides.

Israel had turned down an earlier request by Gen. Zinni to meet Mr. Arafat in Ramallah but the State Department reportedly told Israel that they would recall the special envoy if he could not meet Mr. Arafat.

Gen. Zinni, who is scheduled to meet Mr. Sharon later in the day, is expected to raise the issue again.

Last night, Israel stormed into Nablus, the largest town in West Bank.

Heavy fighting was reportedly on today at a refugee camp on the outskirts of the town. Overnight, Israel took over Jenin and Manger Square in Bethlehem.

Meanwhile, protests continued in the Arab world with demonstrations being held in not just politically sensitive places but also relatively peaceful States like the UAE and Bahrain.

Protests marches have been taken out in Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia — the three Arab States that have diplomatic relations with Israel.

Egypt has downgraded its diplomatic relations with Israel while Jordan is expected to follow suit shortly.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Delhi, Bangkok to review ties
• Israeli forces storm church?
• LTTE for levying entry tax on Jaffna highway
• E.U. for new mediation strategy in West Asia
• Hekmatyar behind plot?
• Sri Lanka to bring in amendment for `conscience voting'
• Crime rates dominate French poll
• India, Pak. must move to ease tension: U.S.
• France moots international peace force
• Wiranto defends troops' actions in E. Timor
• Russia raps Israel
• Pak. parties attack referendum move

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu