ROME - Franciscan officials appealed Monday to Israel to restore electricity and phone service to Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, scene of a three-week standoff between Israeli troops and armed Palestinians.
Franciscan officials in Rome have been unable to contact its clergy and nuns at the church for the last two days, the order said in a statement, adding it had made repeated calls to Israel's ambassador to the Vatican, Yousef Landau, to restore the services.
"There's a grave danger in losing all contact — the only way to provide support and encouragement — with the friars and nuns who are living under dramatic physical and psychological conditions," the statement said.
The Israeli siege of the basilica, built on the site where tradition says Christ was born, began 21 days ago when about 250 armed Palestinians entered the complex.
Some 35 Roman Catholic clergy and nuns, all members of the Franciscan order, are among some 60 Christian clergy trapped inside.
Food and sanitary conditions have been deteriorating, according to envoys trying to start negotiations to break the impasse.
On Sunday, Pope John Paul II, lamenting that one of Christianity's holiest shrines had become the site of "clashes, blackmail and insupportable exchanges and accusations," urged Israel and the Palestinians to make peace.
The Vatican also has been involved in negotiations, as well as leaders of the many Orthodox, Catholic and evangelical churches in Jerusalem.