The 35 day standoff at the Church of the Nativity is close to being resolved. This according to Israel’s defense minister, Ben Eliezer. At stake are the lives of 123 Palestinians inside the church. Palestinian negotiators say the deal is effectively closed, and they are happy with the outcome. But while those inside the church are desperate to get out, they are not all happy with the terms of the deal. Negotiators have not yet decided how many Palestinians will be deported. But the deal sends most of the Palestinians, many of whom are members of the Palestinian security force, to jails in Italy and the Gaza strip.

Meanwhile, conditions remain poor inside the church, conditions are bad. There is no electricity and all the food is gone. Inside, the 123 Palestinians, about 30 clergy, and 10 activists who entered the church last Thursday, are living on a soup of boiled lemontree leaf. On Saturday morning, one Palestinian man was killed by a sniper as he hung his laundry outside the church.

Guests:

• Tony Salman, Antonian Charitable Society, inside the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square in Bethlehem.
• Mary Kelly, Irish nurse and activist, inside the church of the nativity with other international activists.
• Georgina Reeves, Independent Media Center of Bethlehem.

Related link:

• Palestine Independent Media Center

Music:

• Love Among The Sailors–Laurie Anderson, Tightrope (Warner Bros. CD).