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CNN Live At Daybreak

Palestinians Take Refuge in Church of the Nativity

Aired April 03, 2002 - 06:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get back to our top story now: the crisis in the Middle East. CNN's Bill Hemmer is in the bureau this hour to update us there for -- to update us from there. Bill, what's happening?

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Carol, the flash point today is the town of Bethlehem, the Church of the Nativity, biblical birthplace Jesus Christ. Very few reporters inside of Bethlehem, but the reports that are coming out of there right now indicate dozens of Palestinian gunmen, one word said 100, another one said 200, right now holed up inside the Church of the Nativity.

On the outside, Israeli tanks and troops are perched, ringing that church in a complete circle. Also some reports indicate that Israeli tanks also parked there in Manger Square just outside the front door of the Church of the Nativity. Some reports indicate that Palestinian gunmen, there are injuries we hear, being attended to right now by nuns and priests inside.

There was a similar standoff yesterday, Carol, in the town of Ramallah in the Palestinian Security compound, more than 400 Palestinian inside, again, ringed on the outside by Israeli troops. The U.S. helped mediate and broker a deal yesterday that ended that standoff, a couple of hundred taken into custody by the Israeli army. It is possible there could be mediation today, but at this point right now, no indications that that is happening in the town of Bethlehem.

And meanwhile in Ramallah, what I mentioned a few seconds ago, Yasser Arafat still holed up inside of his compound. That word about 24 hours ago from Ariel Sharon indicating that he would allow Arafat simply to leave the area, go into exile on a one-way ticket; once again, flatly rejected. There was an interview last night with Yasser Arafat. Again, he voiced his displeasure with that offer, shall we say. He says simply he is staying put.

Overnight, two more towns, including the West Bank town of Jenin, the Israeli army went in there last night. So at this point, Carol, about a half a dozen towns throughout the West Bank now with military activity. Again, it could expand even more today. There was talk about the town of Nablus. We will watch that quite closely here in the Middle East as well -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Bill Hemmer reporting live for us from Israel this morning -- thank you. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.