Desecration of the Church of Nativity

[TCO]

Were the Christians in league with the palestinians? Were they hostages? Why didn't the Israilis storm the church?

[KrazyHorse]

The "foreigners" were college sudent hippie parlor pinks who were taking part in the popular "see the world, bring down an oppressive regime" tour. They're headed to Iraq next week.

[KrazyHorse]

The Israelis didn't storm the church because they were paying lip service to the right of sanctuary on holy ground...

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by GP
Were the Christians in league with the palestinians? Were they hostages? Why didn't the Israilis storm the church?

If you're referring to the priests, monks etc. who work/live there, then they weren't (according to them) hostages. They stayed out of concern for the church.

I don't think they were on either side; they seemed to wish that everybody would play the stupid war games elsewhere.

[TCO]

The Isr. should have ordered them to leave and then stormed the site.

[KrazyHorse]

The Israelis aren't that stupid. Many people in church were civilians, many children...

[TCO]

They should have used hostage rescue teams, etc.

Were the civilians there of free will? Or hostages? or even collaboraters?

Hey...I mean look at Waco. That's how these standoffs end...

[KrazyHorse]

Not sure about status of civilians (other than priests) in the church. Some of them said they were free to go at any time, at least one teenager claimed to have been a hostage.

BTW, while it may have fallen into disuse, the right of sanctuary was respected for a very long time. If Israelis storm the church then most Christians would have been pissed. They would have been stupid to do it. I said they paid only lip service because of various actions they took (firing flares, blasting sirens, engaging in sniping matches)...

[TCO]

Well we've got 2 recent examples of the ISr. not finishing things off to conclusion. This and the Arafat thingie...

[TCO]

They are Jews though, why should they care what the priests of the false Messiah say?

[KrazyHorse]

US = Christian

US = money + weapons

Also, they might be just a little bit afraid of the consequences if they missed the boat with the whole Jesus thing.

[TCO]

you make me laugh, little kitty...

(cough cough. avatar? cough cough)

[KrazyHorse]

Read location field. Just maintaining balance of terror.

[Ecthy]

does that mean you don't really support the higher ideas of the united nations?

(shut up, GP )

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by GP
Were the Christians in league with the palestinians? Were they hostages?

IIRC the orthodox priest (the guy with the beard) said he had free permission to do as he pleased (stay or leave).
he decided to stay in order to try and protect civilians and the church as was his "duty as a christian".

they alwas do these anti-self preservation things. there is a long history...