JERUSALEM/WESTBANK: LATIN PATRIARCH MICHEL SABBAH ARRIVES IN BETHLEHEM FOR MIDNIGHT MASS AS CLASHES ERUPT IN THE WEST BANK

Record ID: 566246

  • Title: JERUSALEM/WESTBANK: LATIN PATRIARCH MICHEL SABBAH ARRIVES IN BETHLEHEM FOR MIDNIGHT MASS AS CLASHES ERUPT IN THE WEST BANK
  • Date: 24th December 2003
  • Summary: (U4) CHECKPOINT BETWEEN BETHLEHEM AND JERUSALEM (DECEMBER 24, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV: POLICEMEN ON HORSES ACCOMPANYING LATIN PATRIARCH MICHEL SABBAH'S VEHICLE CONVOY 0.05 2. ISRAELI SOLDIERS GUARDING CHECKPOINT 0.09 3. POLICEMEN ON HORSES ACCOMPANYING SABBAH'S VEHICLE CONVOY 0.15 4. VARIOUS OF VEHICLES DRIVING THROUGH STREETS PASSING CHECKPOINT; ONLOOKERS WAVING (2 SHOTS) 0.24 5. SABBAH BEING GREETED 0.38 6. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LATIN PATRIARCH, MICHEL SABBAH'S, SAYING: "Each village and town is like a big prison and despite that we are celebrating the holiday, which is first of all to renew our faith in God and our strength. We are renewing our power so we can renew our ability and our capacity to stand strong. The people are in need to celebrate." 1.09 (W5) BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK (DECEMBER 24, 2003) (REUTERS) 7. VARIOUS OF THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS GATHERING OUTSIDE NATIVITY CHURCH/ BELLS RINGING (3 SHOTS) 1.22 8. HAS: SABBAH ARRIVING AT CHURCH 1.28 9. WIDE OF CHURCH AND PROCESSION 1.31 10. SABBAH WALKING THROUGH CROWD 1.37 11. SABBAH SPREADING INCENSE 2.03 12. SABBAH ENTERING CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY 2.06 (W5) NABLUS, WEST BANK (DECEMBER 24, 2003) (REUTERS) 13. VARIOUS OF ISRAELI TANKS PATROLLING CITY STREET (2 SHOTS) 2.17 14. VARIOUS OF PALESTINIAN YOUTHS THROWING STONES AT TANK (3 SHOTS) 2.36 15. WOUNDED BEING EVACUATED BY AMBULANCE 2.48 16. PALESTINIAN YOUTHS RUNNING AWAY 2.50 17. PALESTINIAN YOUTH BEING DETAINED BY ISRAELI MILITARY 3.04 18. LV'S: PALESTINIANS THROWING STONES ON ISRAELI MILITARY JEEP (2 SHOTS) 3.20 19. VARIOUS OF MILITARY VEHICLES IN STREET 3.31 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 8th January 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CHECKPOINT BETWEEN JERUSALEM AND BETHLEHEM/ BETHLEHEM AND NABLUS, WEST BANK
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Reuters ID: LVA5MH89TO71UCVNKI76Z7VZHO7T
  • Story Text: Latin Patriarch arrives at Nativity Church as
    clashes erupt in West Bank.


    Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah arrived in the West
    Bank town of Bethlehem on Wednesday (December 24),
    Christmas Eve, to lead midnight mass in the Church of the
    Nativity.

    Sabbah's vehicle convoy made its way to Bethlehem
    through the heavily guarded checkpoint escorted by guards
    on horses.

    Bethlehem, in peacetime a magnet for world Christians
    as the birthplace of Jesus, prepared for another bleak
    holiday with few visitors in the face of army roadblocks
    ringing the ancient West Bank town just south of Jerusalem.

    Israel said it would ease a military blockade imposed
    in the West Bank against a three-year-old Palestinian
    uprising to allow pilgrims to reach Bethlehem for
    Christmas. Palestinians call the checkpoints and closures
    collective punishment.

    Sabbah said that although the town is "like a big
    prison" they will continue with the celebrations.

    "Each village and town is like a big prison and despite
    that we are celebrating the holiday, which is first of all
    to renew our faith in God and our strength," Sabbah said.

    For a third year Israel banned Palestinian President
    Yasser Arafat from attending Christmas Mass in the Church
    of the Nativity. He settled for lighting a Christmas tree
    in his Ramallah compound where he has been largely confined
    since 2001.

    But despite the Christmas festivities, violence
    continued in the West Bank. At least three Palestinians
    were wounded in clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West
    Bank city of Nablus.

    Israel has raided Nablus frequently in recent weeks,
    killing at least six Palestinians and wounding dozens. The
    army says it conducts swift raids to arrest wanted
    Palestinian militants.





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