May. 10, 2002 - Explosives, rifles found in deserted Church of Nativity site
By BY THE JERUSALEM POST INTERNET STAFF
An IDF bomb squad found several explosive devices and more than 50 rifles in the site of the Church of the Nativity Friday afternoon.
Colonel Marcel Aviv, who led the IDF negotiating team, told reporters that the soldiers, accompanied by several of the church's clergymen, scanned the site for any arms that were not handed over to the IDF.
"We found over 40 makeshift explosive devices on the site," he told reporters.
American security personnel took about 90 pistols and assault rifles out of the church. Capt. Ron Edelheit, an Israeli army officer, said his soldiers found 40 explosive devices, but did not give further details.
From Rome, the Vatican hailed what it called the "happy" ending to the standoff.
foxnews.com
The IDF allowed journalists to enter the Church of Nativity shortly after the gunmen and civilians exited the compound.
The ancient basilica, built over Jesus' traditional birthplace, reeked of urine and leftover food. Dirty blankets and mattresses were strewn across the floor, along with unwashed pots and pans. The wooden altar in the Armenian se reeks oction of the basilica had been used as a food table and was covered with a coffee pot and left-over food.
Israeli troops had periodically provided food to the clergymen inside, who then distributed it among the Palestinians. One priest, speaking on condition of anonymity, complained that the foreigners had desecrated the church by smoking and drinking alcohol. He said he was also upset by the trash in the compound.
Jesus' traditional birth grotto, which is just a few steps down from the main hall of the basilica, was in pristine condition. Some of the younger Palestinians had slept there since it was the warmest spot, but were later persuaded to move elsewhere so priests could conduct services there.
There were no signs of damage to the church, though several rooms in other buildings in the compound had been scorched by fire. One of the foreigners had said earlier that a 12th century freso in the basilica was damaged by gunshots. However, the mosaic was badly preserved and it was not clear whether the damage was new. |
