Greek and Turkish foreign ministers, on a joint Middle East peace mission, urged Israelis and Palestinians on Thursday to resolve standoffs in Bethlehem and Ramallah without further violence.
George Papandreou of Greece and Ismail Cem of Turkey told reporters after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat earlier in the day that they had urged the Palestinian leader to denounce terrorism.
"In our discussion with President Arafat we suggested it was the moment where all of us, all Palestinians... should come up with a strong condemnation of terrorism and the use of terror as a means of struggle," Cem said.
Papandreou said it was in the interest of all sides to "get beyond the cynicism and get down to the building of peace, real peace."
Papandreou said he and Cem had "added some positive ideas and proposals that...could provide a good basis for moving ahead". Cem alluded to their "input" regarding Bethlehem.
Papandreou said he believed that "a secure Israel means a secure Palestinian state, a viable Palestinian state".
Meanwhile, nine young Palestinians left the besieged Church of the Nativity, accompanying two bodies of men killed in shooting around the church, an Israeli army spokesman said.
The group left the church under a screen from army smoke grenades, AFP reported. It was not immediately clear who carried the bodies out of the church. Israeli authorities detained the nine who left the church, a Palestinian official said.
Two monks accompanied the group, Israeli public radio said. As they emerged on to Manger Square opposite the church, Palestinian negotiators were showing up for a fourth round of talks with the Israeli army.
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators agreed Wednesday in a second round of negotiations to allow 10 to 15 youths, including two 10-year-olds, to leave the church compound, officials from both sides said.
The Israeli army spokesman's office said only that talks were in an "advanced phase." (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
