Latin Patriarch leads march through Bethlehem Square

(5 Jan 2003) 1. Israeli soldier watching as marchers approach 2. Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah at the front of the march 3. Israeli soldiers try to halt march 4. Marchers singing as soldier stands by Patriarch 5. Woman holding banner showing Yasser Arafat 6. Various of marchers holding banners saying "End the Occupation" 7. Standoff between soldiers and marchers 8. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch: "Nobody has the right to close down Jerusalem, nobody has the right. The very nature of the city means everyone should have access to it." 9. Marchers and soldiers 10. Israeli army jeep with banners saying "End the Occupation" attached to its rear (left by demonstrators) leaving STORYLINE: Hundreds of demonstrators, led by the Latin Patriarch, Michel Sabbah, marched through the streets of Bethlehem on Tuesday protesting against the continuing Israeli occupation. Sabbah is the highest-ranking Roman Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land. The march was to call for an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and for the opening up of the whole of Jerusalem. The marchers made their way to the town checkpoint, where they were stopped by Israeli soldiers. Assembled only metres (yards) from the military barrier, the Patriarch held prayers, calling for an end to the Israeli army's presence in the town. This year Bethlehem has lacked its traditional Christmas decorations, trees and lights in protest against Israel's reoccupation of the West Bank town. It has been the first time since 1994 that Christians there celebrated Christmas under Israeli military control. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...