Interior of Church of Nativity a Mess

May 10, 2002

BETHLEHEM, West Bank — The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem was a mess Friday afternoon, with dirty pots and pans, blankets, leftover food and mattresses scattered around the interior, which reeked of urine. 

But Jesus' birth grotto, just a few steps down from the main hall of the basilica, was in pristine condition.

"When you first walked in the door, it stank," Anne Garrels of National Public Radio told Reuters. Garrels was among the first group of journalists let into the church compound after its temporary residents left. 

The wooden altar in the Armenian section of the basilica had apparently been used as a food table. A coffee pot and food still lay on top of it. In one area, there were two unopened cans of beans. 

Some young Palestinians had slept in the birth grotto, since it was the warmest spot, but they were later persuaded to move elsewhere so priests could conduct services. 

"The grotto is absolutely untouched, as far as I could see," Garrels said. "There was nothing done there." 

A 39-day standoff between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants ended peacefully Friday morning, with about 40 of the most wanted militant either flown to exile or deported to the Gaza Strip and about 70 men, women and children let go. 

Ten foreign peace activists held out for a little longer, protesting Israeli plans to deport them as well, but they eventually gave up and emerged into the sunlight. 

One priest, speaking anonymously, told reporters that the foreign activists had "misbehaved" by smoking and drinking alcohol in the holy site. 

There were no signs of damage to the church, though several rooms in other buildings in the compound had been scorched by fire. 

One of the foreign activists had said earlier that a 12th century fresco in the basilica was damaged by gunshots. However, the mosaic was badly preserved and it was not clear whether the damage was new. 

"Some of the mosaics in windows have been damaged," Father Nicholas, a Franciscan monk, told Reuters. 

American security personnel took about 90 pistols and assault rifles out of the church. Capt. Ron Edelheit, an Israeli army officer, said his soldiers found 40 explosive devices, but did not give further details. 

From Rome, the Vatican hailed what it called the "happy" ending to the standoff. 

The standoff began April 2 as more than 200 Palestinians, including wanted militants, policemen and civilians, ran into the church fleeing advancing Israeli troops. 

At the time, Israel entered Bethlehem as part of a large-scale military operation in the West Bank aimed at rooting out militants suspected of involvement in a wave of suicide attacks that claimed the lives of dozens of Israelis. 

Israeli troops had periodically provided food to the clergymen inside, who then distributed it among the Palestinians. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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