Bethlehem, West Bank – About two dozen gunmen on Tuesday briefly seized Bethlehem’s city hall on Manger Square near the Church of the Nativity, demanding jobs in the Palestinian security forces.
After about an hour, the gunmen, tied to the ruling Fatah movement, met with Bethlehem’s governor and then walked out of the building. It was not immediately clear how the standoff was resolved.
Hundreds of Palestinian police and onlookers rushed to Manger Square after the gunmen appeared on the roof of city hall, pointing their weapons toward the crowd. Police sealed the streets leading to Manger Square.
The incident took place just five days before Christmas. The Church of the Nativity, one of Christianity’s holiest shrines, stands over the grotto where Jesus is said to have been born.
Also Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was released from a Jerusalem hospital two days after suffering a minor stroke and said he was eager to get back on the job.
Smiling broadly but looking somewhat drawn, Sharon told reporters as he left Hadassah University Medical Center that the stroke would not impair his performance. He thanked doctors and said he was moved by the concern expressed by Israelis.
“Now I must hurry to get back to work and move forward,” Sharon said.
Aides said Sharon would rest at home for a few days and ease his way back to what they described as an 18- to 20-hour daily schedule. They said he could take his place at the head of the weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday.
“He will get gradually into his workload,” said spokesman Raanan Gissin.
Sharon was hospitalized Sunday night after complaining that he didn’t feel well. Doctors found he had suffered a minor stroke caused by a blood clot blocking blood to the brain. But the episode appeared to have caused no lasting damage.
The 77-year-old politician got an earful from his doctors about losing weight. But aides said he had not decided whether he will resist his love of all things meaty.
Before the stroke, Sharon reportedly had a meal with family and friends that included hamburgers, steak, lamb chops, shish kebab and chocolate cake. After leaving the hospital, he ate Chinese noodles.
The Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.
