Bethlehem | Thursday
A FOURTH session of negotiations aimed at ending the tense standoff at Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity is to be held on Thursday between Israelis and Palestinians, an Israeli army representative said.
General Ron Kitrey also told Israeli army radio that the Israelis would allow a number of people to leave the church, along with ”one or two” bodies to be buried.
”The negotiations will continue, there will be another meeting on Thursday afternoon, and we consider, with the greatest caution, that there is a greater determination on the Palestinian side to reach a solution,” Kitrey said.
More than 200 Palestinians, among whom 30 militants wanted by Israel and another 30 or so priests and monks, have been trapped inside the church since April 2 and are reported to be out of food and water.
A third session of talks ended late on Wednesday without any deal being reached, a member of the Palestinian negotiating team told journalists afterwards.
Wednesday’s talks lasted four hours despite starting late and being interrupted by exchanges of gunfire near the church, which left at least one Palestinian dead and another Palestinian and an Israeli soldier wounded.
Israel has proposed that the Palestinians either give themselves up for trial in Israel or go into exile. Both options have been rejected by the Palestinians, who say they are acting on the instructions of their leader Yasser Arafat, himself under Israeli army blockade in his Ramallah headquarters.
Kitrey also warned foreign journalists covering the siege not to enter areas declared closed military zones by the army.
”They put they lives in danger by entering these areas, and we recommend that they work with regard to the instructions of commanders on the sport,” he said. – Sapa-AFP