Will 15 civilians trapped in Church of Navity leave today?
One of the Palestinian gunmen holed up in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity was shot and killed by Israeli troops early this morning. Israeli soldiers, who have had the church surrounded since April 2, say the man was armed and had fired shots from the church's courtyard.

New Holy Land violence also flared today as Israeli tanks and troops raided the West bank city of Hebron, killing nine. Only hours before, Israel had accepted American and British proposals to end the month-long siege of Yasser Arafat's compound.

New Bethlehem negotiations were also begun this weekend, but according to most news reports no headway was made and there is no indication when the talks will resume. "So far we have reached no solution," Palestinian legislator Salah Taamari told the Associated Press Sunday. "The easy thing for us to do as negotiators is to withdraw, but since there is a ray of hope we will persevere."

Reuters is reporting that the ray of hope may take shape today. A militant inside the church has told reporters by phone that 15 civilians caught up in the standoff may leave the church today. He also says that the wanted gunmen may agree to exile in order to end the standoff.

Fourteen Christians slain in Indonesia
With screams of "Kill them all," a dozen black-masked men with guns, grenades, and daggers stormed the village of Soya on the outskirts of Ambon yesterday. Fourteen Christians died in the attack. Ambon was the site of sectarian violence that killed 9,000 people in the last three years.

Who committed the massacre is unclear. Some observers have accused the Indonesian military, but officials deny the charges. Others say they have "no doubt" that militant Islamic group ...