Teenager who escaped Church of Nativity: They're holding us hostage

[Sirotnikov]

Palestinian Authority gunmen are holding people hostage in the church of nativity, says young boy who managed to escape.

The young boy, one of two palestinians who managed to leave the compound yesterday, told Israeli news reporters that a large group of teenagers are being held against their will in the church, by gunmen of the Palestinain Authority.

"We wanted to leave" he said to Channel 1 jounralist in a filmed interview from a hospital bed "but they said we aren't allowed to and prevented us from doing so. A group of 20 people tried to escape and they forcefully stopped us".

IDF released airial videos proving the claim, showing people trying to escape the compound from within, and groups of armed gunmen stopping them and pulling them of the walls.


The curfew in Bethlehem was lifted for sveral hours yesterday, during which a car bomb was set up near a palestinian authority command. IDF dismantled the bomb. Yesterday, a bomb was found in a mosque in the city.



IDF arrested another Hamas top fighter in Jenin. 3 People were killed from helicopter machine gun fire aimed at his house.

IDF recovered 48 bodies in Jenin so far. 45 of them wore uniform unqie to the Islamic Jihad.


The Military Police is investigating claims of 24 palestinains of IDF soldiers looting Palestinian homes. Most of the complaints come from Ramallah. IDF officials said that they think some are false, but admitted there is basis to think some are true. IDF said it may be difficult to trace.


Israeli Supreme Court asked the state to explain it's military order allowing 18 days of arrest without legal counceling for palestinian prisoners. It also demands further explanations about the targeted assassination policy. The demands follow an appeal by Palestinian human rights organizations.

[Bereta_Eder]

that kid said" I got hungry and bored and I left".

I wish every hostage was this restrained...

[Gibsie]

Just remember, this doesn't give you carte-blanche to send the boys in to kill every Palestinian in sight.

[ZoboZeWarrior]

Hmmm ... tehnically no more valuable than rumors.

[Zevico]

No surprises here. Seems like what arafat would do to garner some sympathy.

[Oldenbarnevelt]

Of course people in the church are being held hostage. Christian priests and nuns wouldn't side with Palestinian terrorists, would they?

(Can someone please convince me that they wouldn't?)

[Sirotnikov]

A car bomb exploded near a settlement with the terrorist in it. A large explosives cargo was found on a road near by, weighing over 100 Kg.

8 palestinians were killed during different incidents of fire exchanges in the Gaza strip.
IDF shot dead 2 terrorists in uniforms carrying weapons and a ladder, planning to infiltrate a settlement.
Yesterday IDF killed a young boy, one of 2, seen carrying an explosive charge next to a settlement in Gaza. The other teenager escaped unharmed. The teenager reportedly drew a knife before being shot.
IDF left Jenin and it's refugee camp, after evacuating over 48 bodies, 45 of them in Jihad uniform.

IDF entered and later left Kalkylia, apparently arresting wanted men.

In Bethelehem IDF arrested several chief Hamas activists, near the church of the Nativity.
Near bethlehem, IDF arrested a 17 y/o girl who is suspected of planning to commit a suicide bombing. She is a sister of one of the succesfull female suicide bombers who exploded in Jerusalem.
IDF arrested one more teenager in similar suspicion.

Near the Israeli border, a palestinian was critically injured after being shot by the IDF, while trying to kill a border patrol officer with a knife.

Palestinians report a 14 y/o being killed in Ramallah. IDF said it opened an inquiry into the matter.

Hezballa launched 2 missiles at Israel, both fell in Lebanon territory. UNIFIL said the Lebanese Army scanned the area from which the rockets were fired.

Israeli editorial accuses UN envoy Larsen of irresponsibility and bias, over Larsen's statements over the Jenin military action. The editorial reminded that Larsen also had a loud arguement with Israeli officials about the existance of a tape, recording UNIFIL soldiers helping Hezballa. Larsen claimed that such a thing doesn't exist and refused to check it. Only after a while, did he admit that such a tape existed, and was later shown to the Israelis after blurring the terrorists' faces.

6 container, 2 liters each, of the highly toxic bromine were uncovered inside Arafat's offices, reports Maariv newspaper. The containers were glass and isolated in sand. The substance is highly toxic in small quantities, but can also be used in bombs to increase their destructive power.

Defense Minister Ben Eliezer: IDF will move out of Ramallah by Sunday. IDF will not remove blockade of Arafat's offices however.
Ben Eliezer also said that Israel will now try to reach quickly an advancement in peace talks, since the current action only postpones terror, and can not completely root it out.
"It's not impossible, that if the terracts will renew, Israel will repeat the operation in some 4 months" he said.

[Sirotnikov]

that kid said" I got hungry and bored and I left".

Who told you that?

Hmmm ... tehnically no more valuable than rumors.

I saw a recorded interview with the kid, and i saw the footage of a helicopter of the escape attempt.

Just remember, this doesn't give you carte-blanche to send the boys in to kill every Palestinian in sight

We don't plan to kill anyone who's not armed.

Infact, even about armed palestinians, we'd prefer to capture them and get information.

Btw, Marwan Barghouti still isn't talking. And we don't use torture so the psychological pressure might take a while.

[Sirotnikov]

Palestinians now are weary of international forces and observers. They also resist the conference initiative.

Arab countries are all for it, and Saudia is suggesting to minimize Arafat's power to symbolic.

The palestinians are now rethinking their strategy.

Ehud Ya'ari is good
Best analytic ever

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by Sirotnikov

that kid said" I got hungry and bored and I left".

Who told you that?

In CNN by the kid itself while being interviewd by that b!tch Amanpour.
I was surprised as well. After all, it is CNN

"in the end I got hungry and bored and I left".

[Bereta_Eder]

BTW, I know that you will jump all over me when I say this but I want to be correct about this: it IS possible that I misheard the english.
And I did see the scenes of the fighting inside the yard itself so I tend to believe some people are being help inside despite their will.

[Urban Ranger]

Bromine isn't that toxic. Now, if they find sarin, that's a whole different story.

In other news, Ariel Sharon is still standing Dubya up, and Israel flatly rejected the UN request of a multi-national peacekeepers.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Israel flatly rejected the UN request of a multi-national peacekeepers.

In the absence of any peace agreement, it was a stupid request to make and Israel was correct in rejecting it out of hand.

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by DinoDoc


In the absence of any peace agreement, it was a stupid request to make and Israel was correct in rejecting it out of hand.

Don't you care about the war crimes of Israel dinodoc?

Do you think Palestinianlives are worthless?

[DinoDoc]

What good are peacekeepers when there is no peace agreement to keep?

On the other hand if you could get the German army to handle the peacekeeping duties, I might be persuaded to support the measure just for the amusement value of seeing them "invade" a Jewish state.