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CNN Live Saturday

Explosion Prompts Israeli Search of Building Near Church of Nativity

Aired May 04, 2002 - 22:04   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to move onto the Middle East now, where efforts to end the three month siege of Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity are now intensifying. Meanwhile, an explosion today prompted an Israeli military search of a nearby building.

And CNN's senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers has more on what the soldiers found.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Israeli soldiers work to clear a Bethlehem street just 500 meters from the Church of the Nativity. Moments earlier, a big explosion. The Israelis say a Palestinian bomb factory.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Away from the building. Stay over there.

RODGERS: The suspect building is a Palestinian medical clinic, but the top floor, the purported bomb factory.

Israeli army officials did not know why there was an explosion. Palestinians could not be reached for comment, but the Israelis say they found another bomb inside, ready to go off, as well as pesticide, marbles and nails to be packed around the explosive belt of the next suicide bomber.

OLIVIER RAFOWICZ, COL., ISRAELI ARMY: The most tragic element that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) was located in the heart of Bethlehem, 500 meters from the church. You can see it from here in the area with so many children.

RODGERS: Also found in the purported bomb factory, photographs of what the Palestinians call martyrs killed by Israel and paraphernalia associated with the so-called holy war.

RAFOWICZ: We have also found green flags linking this laboratory and this terrorist infrastructure to Hamas in Bethlehem. And as you see, you know, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the suicide bombers wearing such green elements on their body.

RODGERS: Earlier in the day, at the Church of the Nativity, where over 100 Palestinians, many of them armed, are holed up inside, the Israelis say one of their snipers shot and killed another Palestinian within the church compound.

Later, this Israeli patrol returned to that same Palestinian apartment complex. This time, to set off a controlled explosion, hearing another undiscovered weapons cache on the site.

Despite the continuing violence, Palestinian sources are now optimistic the standoff at the Church of the Nativity can be resolved "in a matter of a few more hours." Both sides say new and intense negotiations are now underway with American involvement. Tony Salman, a Palestinian who's inside the church, and with whom I spoke by telephone said, "after 35 days, we all want to go home now."

Walter Rodgers, CNN, Bethlehem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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