JERUSALEM: VATICAN ENVOY CARDINAL ROGER ETCHGARAY HAS MET ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER SHIMON PERES FOR TALKS ON THE STANDOFF AT BETHLEHEM'S CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY

Record ID: 400392

  • Title: JERUSALEM: VATICAN ENVOY CARDINAL ROGER ETCHGARAY HAS MET ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER SHIMON PERES FOR TALKS ON THE STANDOFF AT BETHLEHEM'S CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY
  • Date: 5th May 2002
  • Summary: (U5) JERUSALEM (MAY 5, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV CARDINAL ROGER ETCHGARAY ENTERING ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY 0.19 2. MCU CARDINAL TALKING WITH ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER SHIMON PERES 0.42 3. SV CARDINAL AND PERES SHAKING HANDS 0.46 4. MCU PERES 0.47 5. MCU CARDINAL PULL OUT CARDINAL AND PERES 1.00 6. MCU (Engli
  • Embargoed: 20th May 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JERUSALEM
  • City:
  • Country: Israel
  • Reuters ID: LVACYOV8RULMRPXIX53E7SYEC6EL
  • Story Text: Vatican envoy Cardinal Roger Etchgaray has met Israeli
    Foreign Minister Shimon Peres for talks on the continuing
    standoff at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity.



    Cardinal Roger Etchgaray arrived at the Israeli Foreign
    Ministry on Sunday (May 5) for talks with Foreign Minister
    Shimon Peres on the standoff at Bethlehem's Church of the
    Nativity.

    The Cardinal arrived in Israel on Thursday (May 2) to
    participate in negotiations on ending the crisis that began on
    April 2 when Palestinian gunmen sought by Israel fled into the
    church as Israeli troops advanced into Bethlehem.

    Dozens of civilians and clergymen are also inside the
    church. Israel says they are hostages whereas Palestinians
    say the civilians and clergymen inside the church have
    remained there voluntarily.

    U.S. and European officials are currently helping in the
    negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians.

    "There are some differences that we are trying now to
    straight out and I hope a solution will be found soon enough,"
    Peres said before his talks with Cardinal Etchgaray.

    Negotiations, which one Palestinian described as heated,
    have focused on a list of all the people inside the church.


    Israel says the militants inside are behind attacks on
    Israelis and demands their exile or trial in the Jewish state.

    Palestinian officials say they are willing to jail the
    men in Palestinian territory under foreign supervision.

    Early on Sunday morning, Israeli soldiers allowed food
    and cigarettes into the church, where supplies have dwindled.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register