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Thursday, June 13, at 9pm, 60 minutes

On April 2, as Israeli tanks rolled into Bethlehem, some 200 Palestinians--many of them armed--stormed into the fabled Church of the Nativity. They remained there for thirty-nine days, as the standoff between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants at one of the world's most revered holy sites kept the world transfixed.

In "The Siege of Bethlehem," airing Thursday, June 13, at 9 P.M. on PBS (check local listings), FRONTLINE takes viewers inside the siege at the Church of the Nativity. With unprecedented inside access to key figures involved in the standoff, FRONTLINE reveals the secret negotiations, strategies, gambits, and maneuvers employed throughout the ordeal, as the combatants sought to maintain the delicate balance between diplomatic persuasion and military might.

"The access we received was simply extraordinary," says executive producer Tom Roberts. "Everyone was under enormous pressure: The Palestinians were trying to avoid another defeat, while the Israelis were determined to bring them to justice."

"The Holy Land and Bethlehem in particular is a place where three great religions converge," he continues. "But instead of being full of peace and harmony, it was all conflict. Even the Christian priests were bickering at the end."

Filmed throughout the last three weeks of the thirty-nine day standoff, "The Siege of Bethlehem" takes viewers behind the scenes in Manger Square, an area that was off-limits to the international press due to the ongoing exchange of gunfire between Palestinian militants and the Israeli army. While several religions consider the square and the Church of the Nativity to be a holy site, lead Israeli negotiator Lt. Colonel "L" tells FRONTLINE that he does not allow himself to think in those terms.

"I cannot look at this place as a Jewish army that surrounds a Christian church that has been taken hostage by Muslims," he tells FRONTLINE. "This is a way of thinking that cannot be solved. I have to force myself and my guys to look at the situation between men. This is the key for solving a crisis situation."

"The Siege of Bethlehem" spotlights both the delicate negotiating process aimed at ending the siege and the military pressure exerted by the Israeli Army, or "IDF," to force the Palestinians to leave the church. Viewers witness the negotiated release of the first non-combatants from the church: eleven Palestinian boys. As Israeli sharpshooters cover the church's windows, the boys leave the church accompanied by priests bearing two coffins. After their release, FRONTLINE accompanies the boys back to their homes, where they recount their experiences inside the church.

"The last martyr was killed yesterday," seventeen-year-old Fahed tells his family. "He was going to the WC when they hunted him down. Another one went out to charge the cell phone, they shot him in the stomach and he died. Anyone who approached to drag them, the wounded, they start shooting at him."

The documentary illustrates the religious zealotry that infuses much of the Palestinian people's support for their fighters, particularly those within the Church of the Nativity. In one scene, a Palestinian father describes his joy at learning of his son's death inside the Church of the Nativity.

"Today is the greatest day of my life--it's like my wedding day!" the father proclaims. "Today is the greatest day thanks to my son. As God is my witness, I have never been happier...I'm so happy, praise God, for today is the day of my son's martyrdom. Praise God, today is a day of great joy!"

As the siege drags on, Israeli Lt. Colonel "M" describes the sticking points that are hindering negotiations with the Palestinians. "There are two taboos," he tells FRONTLINE. "The Palestinian will not agree on an imposed deportation, will not agree to be sent to Israeli jails. And Israel will not agree for those with Israeli blood on their hands to go freely to Gaza. I mean they will have to pay, to be investigated.

"So between those taboos," he says, "is a very narrow path."

The documentary reveals the moves and counter-moves that prolonged the thirty-nine day siege, in which seven were killed and more than a dozen wounded, including four Israeli soldiers. In one exchange, the Israeli army decides to fake a nighttime assault on the church in order to pressure the Palestinians into abandoning the site. But the plan backfires: The Palestinians respond by setting fire to one of the church's outer buildings, a blaze that is captured by the international press.

To the Israelis and Palestinians waging the siege, however, such incidents have become a part of everyday life. "I am not thinking anything is unusual here," Lt. Colonel "L" tells FRONTLINE. "I think we are going to face crises like [this] and it will always involve Israelis and Palestinians...This is the way we live--nothing special."

Following the broadcast, visit FRONTLINE's Web site at www.pbs.org/frontline for extended coverage of this story, including:

• A chronology of key events leading up to and during the siege;
• Interviews with key figures on both sides;
• A compilation of background readings, video excerpts, and more.

"The Siege of Bethlehem" is An October Films/Goldvicht Productions film for the BBC and WGBH/FRONTLINE in association with the Kirk Documentary Group. The executive producer for October Films is Tom Roberts. The producer is Israel Goldvicht. The director is Dimitri Doganis. Fiona Murch is the series editor for the BBC series "Correspondent."

The senior producer for FRONTLINE is Michael Kirk.

FRONTLINE is produced by WGBH Boston and is broadcast nationwide on PBS.

Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers. National sponsorship for FRONTLINE is provided by EarthLinkÆ and NPRÆ.

FRONTLINE is closed-captioned for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers.

The executive producer for FRONTLINE is David Fanning.

FRONTLINE XX/June 2002