“Some large churches and Christian missionary groups are promoting a mass event for about 2,500 people,” a government official said. “They are planning an outdoor rally in Bethlehem’s Manger Square and a march from Jerusalem to Bethlehem on August 8-10.” He said another event in Jerusalem sponsored by some missionary groups is scheduled for August 15-17 and some 500 Christians from Korea and the U.S. are scheduled to attend.”

He said the evacuation of Jewish settlers from Gaza next month made disturbances “very possible,” while rising tensions between the Palestinian Authority and the armed group Hamas over parliamentary elections turned Israel and the occupied territories into a “high-terror zone.” “We asked the groups to cancel the events, but they are refusing.”

Meanwhile, there are dozens of Koreans in Afghanistan, which the government has designated a restricted travel zone, on missionary work. “On Monday, UN military forces discovered three Korean women traveling through the dangerous Baghlan Province,” an official said. “They escorted them to the capital Kabul and turned them over to the Korean Embassy. In the process, the convoy came under attack by unknown assailants, but there were no losses.” On Wednesday, UN forces reportedly escorted another four Korean women travelers to the embassy.

The embassy and Foreign Ministry have asked them to go home and appealed to their families in Korea for help. “Legally, there’s no way to stop them from traveling,” a Korean official said. “We ask citizens to restrain themselves from visiting these dangerous areas.”

(englishnews@chosun.com )