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American Morning
Standoff at One of Christianity's Holiest Places Began Earlier This Week
Aired April 04, 2002 - 07:02 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Up front this morning, reports now of explosions rocking the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. A standoff at one of Christianity's holiest places began earlier this week between the Israeli military and Palestinian gunmen taking refuge inside that church.
And just today, Israel announced the takeover of the largest West Bank town, Nablus, as it searched for terrorists, completing the reoccupation of Manger Central (ph) and northern cities in the West Bank.
Joining us now from Jerusalem with more on all of that is Bill Hemmer -- good morning, Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Paula, hello. Like so many things in this part of the world, things tend to be quite confusing at times, and it appears over the past two hours, that we have met another one of those situations. In the town of Bethlehem, about two hours ago getting reports from inside the church that the Israeli military had blown off the back door to that church. Later, though, the Israeli government came out and said it was a lie. They vehemently denied any activity there.
Based on what we do not know, and that's quite a bit right now in Bethlehem, here is what we believe we do know. About 200 Palestinian gunmen, again, inside the Church of the Nativity wanted by about 1,000 Israeli troops. In the last hour though, getting indications that some of those gunmen may have escaped that church, and right now, there may be a manhunt taking place in central Bethlehem. Once again, the Israeli government saying it will not do anything in terms of military activity that will impact that church.
Rinan Gissen (ph) last hour here on CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. COL. OLIVIER RAFKOWITZ, IDF SPOKESMAN: The whole question of breaking into the church and blowing up the door, baseless lies, part of a disinformation campaign, similar to the accusation, allegation that we killed a priest, which still is alive and well. We will not harm the churches in any way. We will find a way to deal and arrest those wanted terrorists, which we are after, without harming the church. (END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: And again, the activity, the escalation does continue. The West Bank town of Nablus, the most populated town in all of the West Bank, well over 100,000 people inside the town alone, now firmly, the Israelis say, in their control. Hundreds of tanks began on the move last night after the sun went down. Getting reports right now inside that town that there are shootouts between Palestinian militants and the Israeli forces. Again, that situation remains quite tense.
In total right now, Paula, half a dozen major towns throughout the West Bank with this current military operation under way. That's on the military side.
Now, the diplomatic side seems to be hitting another gear today. Havier Solana, the chief foreign policy adviser for the European Union has arrived here in the Middle East. He will meet with Shimon Peres and other leaders of the Israeli government here. In addition, Anthony Zinni will also meet with Ariel Sharon, the prime minister, possibly within the hour here.
The diplomacy does continue, but whether or not anything can be done to curb the current escalation, well, that is still a wide open question today -- Paula.
ZAHN: And, Bill, so far the Israelis have refused to allow General Zinni to visit with Yasser Arafat. That has been one of the U.S. demands. And speculation as to whether the Israelis eventually will relent and allow that to happen?
HEMMER: Ariel Sharon reiterated that. In fact, he said this afternoon during a tour along the northern border with Lebanon. He says that Yasser Arafat will not be given access to any diplomats until the current military action is completed.
In addition to that, Saeb Erakat, who is the chief Palestinian negotiator on the other side, he says the Palestinians have only one address, and that is the address of Yasser Arafat. They will put no one else up front from the Palestinian side to meet with Javier Solana or Anthony Zinni at this point -- Paula.
ZAHN: Bill Hemmer, thanks so much for that update -- see you a little bit later on this morning.
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