Lraper: Prayer in Bethlehem

Jerusalem (ENI). Soldiers this week temporarily cleared
a path through the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for Christian
leaders, who appealed for an end to the bitter fighting. Some
1000 Christian clergy and laymen marched from Jerusalem to the
violence-torn streets of Bethlehem to pray for peace in the Holy
Land. As the demonstrators proceeded, they were honoured
by the fighters in the front-line. Israeli soldiers briefly left their
posts, tanks moved aside and Palestinian gunmen laid down
their guns for a few hours during the procession on 23 October.