Received: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 18:04:07

it's a hot, muggy evening in bethlehem, and smoke is cloaking the hill over beit jala. some of it is rubbish fires, but some of us looks very thick and like it's from something bigger. always a worry, smoke.

the idf are attacking the church of the nativity this evening. we've been expecting it for so long, but to know it's happening now is so painful. they've eliminated the only press witnesses by barring them from the top floor of the star. there are flares going off regularly over the sniper positions above al-azza camp, and loads of gunfire. i'm not sure if the apaches are still around, but there is an idf drone (an unmanned observation aircraft) buzzing around. they are revolting little things; they make a high-pitched whine and when it's dark you don't know what they can see with infrared or thermal imaging or whatever. locals report lots of explosions round the church and the possibility of gas being used to drive them out, and a rumour that a fire may have started in the church also. unconfirmed. note that a right-wing member of the knesset suggested several days ago, with no sense of irony, that the people in there be gassed out. what with the church and the arrests this afternoon and

a group of internationals got the shit kicked out of them in nablus today as well - poor, sweet mika was beaten till he bled, and one woman may have 2 broken fingers. they were punched, kicked and smashed in the ribs with rifle butts, all whilst trying to get food and medicine in to camps which have been closed military zones - under complete lockdown - for 4 days.

and in jenin internationals have been trying to get more aid and witnesses in, swathed in the reek of dead bodies.

meanwhile, powell and bush try to set up 'peace summits' without arafat. and over the illegal settlement (colony) of har gilo, overlooking bethlehem, they are celebrating israeli independence day with a firework display, the bangs of the rockets mingling with the sounds of civilians being shelled and shot.

s xxx