Statement on Church of the Nativity Standoff
(May 10, 2002)
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
I am pleased by the nonviolent end to the standoff
at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
Like the resolution to the situation in Ramallah, the positive result
in Bethlehem was achieved through the efforts of a number of individuals
and governments. In particular, I appreciate the efforts of personnel
at our Embassy in Tel Aviv and our Consulate General in Jerusalem, which
were critical to the outcome, and the work of the European Union.
The end of the standoff in Bethlehem is a positive
development that removes an obstacle to restoring security cooperation
between the parties and should advance the prospects for resuming a
political process toward peace. As I said on April 4th, this can only
happen if all parties assume their responsibilities for fighting terror
and promoting peace.
Sources: The White House |