1.   The monastic buildings surround the church and spread up the hillside above.

2.   The church was also surrounded on three sides by an open arcade on which a gallery was later built.

3.   And we find the graveyard surrounding the church a strangely peaceful retreat from the cacophonous street.

4.   But Israeli tanks and snipers continued to surround the church on Saturday and occupy this Palestinian city.

5.   Christian schools are now mostly populated by Muslims, churches are surrounded by mosques and synagogues.

6.   Explosions and gunfire regularly surround the church, the clergymen said.

7.   Homes and buildings, flattened like stacks of pancakes, surrounded the church, as did banners with political slogans hung by the Syrian hosts.

8.   In anticipation of just such a move, several hundred French supporters had surrounded the church in recent days.

9.   Israeli officials say they will keep the church surrounded despite calls from Roman Catholic officials to end the siege and let those inside leave.