Israeli Tanks Enter Bethlehem
Sun Mar 31,10:02 PM ET
By IBRAHIM HAZBOUN, Associated Press Writer
BETHLEHEM, West Bank - Israeli tanks entered Bethlehem early Monday, stopping 500 yards from the Church of the Nativity, which marks the traditional birthplace of Jesus, witnesses said.
Earlier, dozens of Israeli tanks rolled into the West Bank town of Qalqiliya, marking a widening of the Israeli operation that began Friday when Israeli forces broke into the compound around Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's office in the West Bank town of Ramallah and took up positions just outside his office. Other tanks took control of the town.
The Israeli military refused to comment about the Bethlehem incursion. Tanks and armored vehicles were seen approaching Bethlehem overnight. The invasion began at 5:30 a.m., shortly before daybreak.
The moves into the two towns came after a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to his nation, in which he pledged, "We will clean out the terrorist infrastructure from the foundations." He spoke after two Palestinian suicide bombers struck, killing 15 Israelis.
