Britain: Israeli Gunfire Near Bethlehem Church 'Unacceptable'

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, April 08, 2002

Britain: Israeli Gunfire Near Bethlehem Church 'Unacceptable'

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Britain said on Monday that the heavy gunfire taken by Israeli troops close to Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity is "totally unacceptable". "It is totally unacceptable. It is the latest in a long line of completely unacceptable actions by the Israeli defense force," Ben Bradshaw, Foreign Office Minister in charge of the Middle East, told BBC radio.

"The Israelis are playing an extremely dangerous game. They are continuing to defy the United States," Bradshaw said.

The foreign office minister made that comments after fighting erupted early Monday around the besieged Church of the Nativity, one of Christianity's holiest sites, leaving a Palestinian dead, two Israelis wounded and a building next to the church on fire.

Israel and Palestine made contradictory interpretation of the latest incident around the holy church, where about 200 armed Palestinians and others have been trapped by Israeli troops since last Tuesday.

Earlier on late Sunday, Bradshaw also warned that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is making "a series of terrible mistakes" by ignoring Washington's call to halt its military action in the West Bank.

"Israeli leaders ignore American wishes at their peril. it is absolutely vital that Israel heed America's call. Prime Minister Sharon is continuing to make a series of terrible mistakes," he said in another interview to BBC Radio program.

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