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CNN Live Today

Conflict in the Middle East: More People Emerge From Bethlehem Church

Aired April 30, 2002 - 13:13   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: More than 20 people so far have emerged from Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity today. About 120 still inside, including the 25 I mentioned with the Israeli foreign minister, Shimon Peres. For the latest on that standoff now, Mike Hanna on the scene in Bethlehem -- Mike.

MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Bill, in an otherwise bleak landscape, there were signs of progress, signs that negotiation can lead to peaceful resolution. At this stage, more than 20 Palestinians have emerged from the Church of the Nativity. They were among a group of some 200 who took refuge in the Church of the Nativity when Israeli forces invaded Bethlehem at the beginning of the month.

Since then, there's been a very dangerous standoff, a major crisis, Israeli forces encircling the church. Those inside says Israel -- some not being allowed to leave by what they said were Palestinian gunmen holding civilians as hostages in the church. This fact disputed by some Palestinians and by some of the priests and monks within the church.

But despite all this debate, the negotiators from the two sides got together and this afternoon, one by one, a group of more than 20 Palestinians emerged from the church. Among them, Palestinian police officers, some Palestinian youths and other Palestinian civilians. Now, they were -- identity was checked by Israeli soldiers, then they were boarded on a bus. They will be taken away, we are told, to an undisclosed venue where they will be questioned, their identities will be checked and then they will be released and allowed to go home. Israel seeing this as a sign of success, as a sign of progress within the ongoing negotiations to resolve this standoff, as certainly this appears to be the position on the Palestinian side as well.

But the standoff does continue. There are a group of more than 20 still in the church. Israel describes them as wanted terrorists, and negotiations as to the fate of these are going to continue in the days ahead. At this stage, the church remains under siege. Israeli forces have remained surrounding the Church of the Nativity building. But this massive group, or very large group, coming out in the course of the day, an indication that negotiations can sometimes bring some form of benefit -- Bill.

HEMMER: Mike, thanks. Mike Hanna in Bethlehem. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com