April 14, 2002

Nativity Church Presents a Problem

[East Jerusalem, Palestine] So what will the Israeli Army do about the Nativity Church problem? They totally surround it. But there are 200 or so folks inside. Some have guns. Some do not. Some are clergy. Some are families. Some are injured. Some are dead. None are hostages. All are hungry. All are thirsty. All are tired.

Residents have told me about the surveillance around the church. They tell me of the balloon floating overhead. They tell me of the drone airplane buzzing around the area too. They also tell me about the loudspeakers blaring loud screeching noise toward the church. (Neighbors get a nice dose of the noise. Not only are they trapped inside their homes and under the constant threat of shelling and bombing, they also get to listen to the "psychological warfare.")

The Israeli army really wants the gunmen inside. What can they do to get them? They said the church will not be harmed. How about the people? Some local clergy have proposed a solution. They suggest leaving the area and letting the people in the church put down their guns and leave. Think the army will approve that? I sort of doubt it. The army has proposed a solution too. They suggest the people come out safely and go on trial or be deported. Think the gunmen will go for that? Hmmm...What other options exist? Starve them out? Battle it out? I have no idea what is going to happen, but the Nativity Church is another high-visibility problem.