Monk shot in Bethlehem
An Armenian monk was shot and seriously wounded at Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity compound today. The Israeli army and Palestinians blamed each other for the attack.
The monk, Armin Sinanian, 22, was undergoing surgery at a Jerusalem hospital, where a spokeswoman said he was in serious condition.
A Palestinian policeman, one of more than 200 armed Palestinians who remained holed up in the Church of the Nativity, said that Israeli troops shot a monk after breaking open a door.
But Israeli army spokesman Captain Jacob Dallal said shots were fired at troops as they made a delivery of food intended for the 60 priests and nuns inside the church compound.
He said Palestinians opened fire, hitting the monk.
