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CNN Live Today

Group of Protesters Enter Church of Nativity

Aired May 02, 2002 - 13:37   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: We are going to continue our coverage on the crisis in the Middle East right now. Walter Rodgers is standing by in Bethlehem now with more on what we all witnessed last night. It was live here on CNN, and those images were graphic.

Also today, apparently a group of protesters had gotten past the Israeli guards and got into that church.

Walter, good evening. What more do you have?

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill. The situation in Bethlehem remains very tense, and if anything, the fire in the Church of the Nativity last night exacerbated the situation; tensions very high. There was sniping in Manger Square, between Israelis and Palestinians, off and on throughout the day. The Israelis are now charging the Palestinians with having planted bombs and booby traps inside the Church of the Nativity. This, according the Israelis, as well as the Palestinians allegedly starting those fires last night.

Of course, the Palestinians claim it was the Israelis who started the fire. But then, there was a bizarre incident in Manger Square today. That bizarre incident being a group calling itself the World Solidarity Movement, young people, perhaps in their 20s, dashing past the Israelis, running to the door of the Church of the Nativity and then going inside as if the Israelis weren't even watching. The Israelis have all their rifles and eyes peeled on the church itself. And they, about 10 of them, made it inside the Church of the Nativity, and they said they came to bring food and supplies to the Palestinians trapped inside. Dozens and dozens remain there, according to the Israelis.

The Israelis have given those young people actually an hour to get out of there or the Israelis are saying they are no longer responsible for their well-being, and that hour has just about elapsed now.

Joining me at this time is the mayor of Bethlehem, Mayor Hanna Nasser. Mayor, we have a pretty unpleasant situation on our hands here. What's the way out?

HANNA NASSER, MAYOR OF BETHLEHEM: Concerning the Church of Nativity?

RODGERS: Yes. NASSER: You know, as far as I see, we cannot solve this problem at this local level in Bethlehem.

RODGERS: Who should it be solved? Does that mean Yasser Arafat and Ariel Sharon who won't talk to each other?

NASSER: No, we have a very recent president that has to place in the compound of President Yasser Arafat in Ramallah. I'm talking about the principle, the principle of getting these...

HEMMER: All right. Apparently we lost our picture there. Do we have them back? All right, what a shame. Walter Rodgers, we lost his image there from Bethlehem.

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