PA daily falsely demonizes Israel as attacking Christian holy places
“Since June 4, 1967, the day the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories began, the Christian holy places, particularly the churches, as well as the Christians [themselves], have witnessed a multi-pronged Israeli offensive:
On March 24, 1971, the occupation authorities attempted to burn the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, when an Israeli man entered the church and began smashing the ancient lamps above the holy tomb. Had it not been for the monks, he would have set the church on fire…
In 2001, the Archimandrite [Tsibouktsakis] Germanus, head of the Greek Orthodox monastery in [Wadi] Qelt, was murdered as he was driving by the settlement of Maale Adumim on the Jerusalem-Jericho road…
In 2002, the Israeli army fired on the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, leading to an exchange of fire at the entrance to the church, parts of which were destroyed, causing heavy damage… (i.e., refers to the 2002 siege of the Church of the Nativity, which was being used as a shelter by terrorists)."
Note: Greek monk Tsibouktsakis Germanus was murdered by Palestinian hit men in a shooting attack carried out on the orders of Marwan Barghouti.
Siege of the Church of the Nativity - In 2002, during the PA terror campaign (the second Intifada, 2000-2005), Israel launched Operation Defensive Shield in the West Bank to prevent future terror attacks against Israelis. During the operation, 39 terrorists fled to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, using dozens of hostages and the religious site as shields. After 39 days of siege by the Israeli army, the terrorists released the hostages and were deported to Gaza and Cyprus. During the siege, the church was damaged in exchanges of fire between the terrorists and the Israeli army. One clergyman was killed by the terrorists and 8 terrorists were killed by the Israeli army.
PMW has been unable to find any information about the alleged 1971 arson attempt at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
On March 24, 1971, the occupation authorities attempted to burn the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, when an Israeli man entered the church and began smashing the ancient lamps above the holy tomb. Had it not been for the monks, he would have set the church on fire…
In 2001, the Archimandrite [Tsibouktsakis] Germanus, head of the Greek Orthodox monastery in [Wadi] Qelt, was murdered as he was driving by the settlement of Maale Adumim on the Jerusalem-Jericho road…
In 2002, the Israeli army fired on the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, leading to an exchange of fire at the entrance to the church, parts of which were destroyed, causing heavy damage… (i.e., refers to the 2002 siege of the Church of the Nativity, which was being used as a shelter by terrorists)."
Note: Greek monk Tsibouktsakis Germanus was murdered by Palestinian hit men in a shooting attack carried out on the orders of Marwan Barghouti.
Siege of the Church of the Nativity - In 2002, during the PA terror campaign (the second Intifada, 2000-2005), Israel launched Operation Defensive Shield in the West Bank to prevent future terror attacks against Israelis. During the operation, 39 terrorists fled to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, using dozens of hostages and the religious site as shields. After 39 days of siege by the Israeli army, the terrorists released the hostages and were deported to Gaza and Cyprus. During the siege, the church was damaged in exchanges of fire between the terrorists and the Israeli army. One clergyman was killed by the terrorists and 8 terrorists were killed by the Israeli army.
PMW has been unable to find any information about the alleged 1971 arson attempt at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.