JERUSALEM — Western nations are warning Christians traveling to the Holy Land during the holidays that they could be abducted by Palestinian
insurgents.
Western diplomatic sources said several embassies and consulates have
been advising nationals to avoid travel to the West Bank during
Christmas and New Year's. The sources said Christians could come under
threat of abduction or attack.
On Wednesday, Fatah insurgents abducted two Westerners north of Gaza
City. The Westerners were identified as teachers of the American School and
taken to an undisclosed location.
The diplomatic sources said Western embassies, while not not issuing an official alert, were bracing for Fatah
violence in Bethlehem during Christmas. They said the PA has assured Western
governments that it would deploy thousands of troops to protect Christmas
Mass at the Church of Nativity.
At the same time, Israeli authorities have increased monitoring of
foreigners headed for Bethlehem. On Tuesday, three Westerners who said they
were headed for a peace conference in Bethlehem were denied entry to Israel.
Israeli security sources said the visitors were suspected of seeking to
incite violence against Israel during Christmas.
On Tuesday, about 40 Fatah insurgents raided Bethlehem City Hall, which
overlooks the Church of the Nativity. The insurgents, who warned of
additional attacks, fired into the air and demanded at least 320 jobs in the
Palestinian Authority.
The insurgents agreed to leave after the PA pledged to consider the
Fatah demands. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas was said to have intervened to end
the standoff.
In the Gaza Strip, another 100 Fatah gunmen raided offices of the
movement in Khan Yunis. The insurgents also demanded jobs and money from
both Fatah and the PA.
The PA has provided jobs for at least 700 Fatah insurgents from the Al
Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in the West Bank. At least another 2,000 insurgents
were said to have sought employment or pensions
for their role in the war against Israel, which began in 2000.
