A Death and a Breach by Activists as Bethlehem Siege Persists
On a day of more fatal gunfire, and a scramble by foreign peace activists carrying food into the Church of the Nativity, Palestinian negotiators offered a compromise to end the monthlong standoff between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian gunmen inside.

The Palestinian proposal came as Israel faced the added complication of having 11 foreigners — 10 activists and a photographer — inside the compound. A group of 23 activists appeared in Bethlehem's narrow stone alleys about 5:50 p.m. today, then picked their way through the barbed wire barricade about 200 yards from the church and walked quickly across Manger Square. Several had food in their backpacks: rice, flour, lentils, canned goods, salt, cigarettes and sugar. The Palestinians inside say they have been living on boiled grass for two weeks.

The group seemed to catch the Israeli soldiers off balance, and quickly made it across the square, under the gaze of snipers and paratroopers behind sandbags, to the basilica's tiny entrance, where the door swung open to admit them. Ten activists ducked inside; 13 others were detained by Israeli soldiers. A Los Angeles Times photographer, Carolyn Cole, slipped inside, too.

Assessing the fire damage, the Rev. Artemio Vitores, a Franciscan spokesman, said that the Greek Orthodox convent had been seriously affected, and that destruction had also occurred on the fourth and fifth floors of Casa Nova Franciscan pilgrim house and in the parish priest's office. The oldest and most religiously significant structures, including the basilica built on the ground where Christians believe Jesus was born, escaped harm, he said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/03/international/middleeast/03BETH.html