Bethlehem: Deal Close but Not Complete
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: To Bethlehem where it is close but not complete. That's the word from the Church of the Nativity. Efforts to end that long standoff continue. And as we learn from CNN's Matthew Chance now, a deal has been struck, but some logistical problems apparently still remain. Matthew is live now. Good evening.</s>MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill. Big obstacles here in Bethlehem to prevent this agreement that's been made, an agreement between Israeli and Palestinian officials with United States and British diplomats as well, an agreement of course to end this siege around the Church of the Nativity here in Bethlehem. The deal, the shape of the deal, was spelled out to us all earlier today. We believed it was going to go ahead. 13 Palestinians, the hard-core militants, according to Israel, holed up inside the church, were going to be cast into exile to Italy, another 26 placed under Palestinian custody and placed ready for trial in Palestinian areas, possibly Gaza. The big and unexpected stumbling block when Italy came out and said that it hadn't seen the documents appropriate to this case and it was saying no at the moment, until there were further consultations. There is, of course, a legal issue as well. How can men, accused by Israel, simply, and not tried yet, be put under some kind of indefinite guard with Italy or indeed anywhere else. Now, Bill, this news comes as a bitter blow to the residents of Bethlehem, who had seen light at the end of the tunnel. Of course, remember, as this siege has been going on for the past five weeks, the residents of Bethlehem have been places under almost total curfew. Very difficult for them to go about their ordinary lives. Local officials are telling us that the rubbish, the trash piling up in the streets, is becoming a health hazard. So there is a lot of frustration here tonight, both the people, the diplomats who have been brokering this deal, and of course in Bethlehem as well -- Bill.</s>HEMMER: Matthew Chance in Bethlehem, right near Manger Square. Thank you, Matthew. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com