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American Morning

Interview of Atallah Mansour, "Native Christians in the Holy Land"

Aired April 08, 2002 - 08:47   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: In Bethlehem, a death in the compound of the Church of the Nativity. Smoke rose over the church after a Palestinian policeman was reportedly shot and killed by an Israeli sniper, as the Palestinian was trying to apparently put out a fire in the parish church.

Israeli troops continue to surround the church where more than 200 Palestinian gunmen had been holed up for week. The church stands as one of Christianity's most holy sites, and joining us now from Jerusalem this morning to talk about the battle at the Church of the Nativity and the shrine's religious significance is journalist Atallah Mansour, author of the book "Native Christians in the Holy Land," which will be released this summer.

Good to see you, sir. First of all, what is your reaction to what this church finds itself at the crossroads of?

ATALLAH MANSOUR, AUTHOR, "NATIVE CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND": My reaction is awful. I think most people in this country, from all races and religions, feel bad, but especially today for us Christians of the Holy Land, it is an awful feeling to think that our holy shrine, that was standing there for the last 1,500 years, is in danger by gunfire.

ZAHN: Talk a little bit more about the importance of -- sir, if you would, the importance of the Church of the Nativity to Christians, and we we will look at a shot of the entrance to the church, which is very interesting.

MANSOUR: The Church of the Nativity can tell the story of Eastern Christianity at all. I mean, all of it. All through history. This church was built in the third century -- in the fourth century by the Saint Helena, and stood there for 200 years over the grotto where Jesus Christ was born. Then this church was leant to the Italy (ph) -- it was rebuilt immediately after that by the emperor Justinian some 1,500 years ago. It's the only building, the only Christian building that stood all that period, all through that long history. And, of course, it's very important because it's -- it stands on the site of the birth of our Lord, but it's also very important because even for the Muslims of this region, because the birth of Jesus Christ is one of the few issues on which Christians and Muslims agree, and so it was a place where all Christians, but very many Muslims came for a pilgrimage. And the first time this church... ZAHN: What is -- what is the sense of -- I'm sorry, Mr. Mansour, because of the delay here, but what is the sense of bitterness that people have that these Palestinian gunmen have sought refuge there?

MANSOUR: There is a tradition in this area, I think not only in this country, but in many other countries, that people who are running away, feeling themselves in danger will go and find shelter -- or in a sanctuary like the Holy Sepulcher. I don't think that was very odd in the history of that church, and in the history of churches and mosques in this area.

ZAHN: What is your concern about where things -- sir, what is your concern about where things might go from here, with the report that a Palestinian actually ended up dying inside the church today?

MANSOUR: I still hope that the Israelis will not force their way into the church, and they will not fill the church in blood of the people there. As much as I could gather, the people who are in the church give up their weapons to the monks and priests inside the church, and so they are harmless lot. I don't know if they have any weapons, or if they shoot against the Israeli army besieging them.

ZAHN: Yes, it is really not very clear to anybody involved exactly what's going on inside there. Atallah Mansour, we appreciate your time this morning and wish you luck with the new book that will be coming out in a couple months called "Native Christians in the Holy Land." Thanks for your time this morning. Appreciate it.

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