Years Ago Today: Israeli forces seize the church of Nativity in Bethlehem, standoff for 39 days

2002: Israeli forces seize the church of Nativity in Bethlehem

The siege of the church of Nativity lasted from April 2nd to May 10th 2002

The Israeli defense forces occupied Bethlehem and also tried to capture suspected Palestinian militants

Around 200 monks were resident in the church and many Palestinian were also there for different reasons

The siege of the church of Nativity in Bethlehem lasted from April 2nd to May 10th, 2002 in the West Bank. Israeli warplanes, tanks, and troops launched a major ground and air attack. Heavy fighting broke out in the streets and also they entered homes and religious buildings in search of militants. Over 39 days, inside the church snipers, were killed, monks pleaded and soldiers were vandalized. After 39 days, an agreement was reached according to which the militants turned themselves into Israel and were exiled to Europe.

1877: First Easter egg roll held on White House lawn

Rutherford B. Hayes was the first President to officially allow egg roll to take place on White House Lawn

The White House egg roll has been an Easter tradition since the 1870s

During World War-1, egg roll was canceled because of the national campaign to end food waste .

According to the White House," It is one of the oldest and most unique traditions in Presidential history." Rutherford B. Hayes was the first President to officially allow egg roll to take place on White House Lawn. It has been an Easter tradition since 1870s. Stories have been told of informal egg-rolling gatherings at the White House during President Lincoln's presidency. From then on, with only a few interruptions, the Easter egg roll took place on the South Lawn of the White House. In 1998, they started broadcasting it also.

1898: Harindranath Chattopadhyay was born

He was also a dramatist, actor, and a musician besides being an Indian English poet

He was the younger brother of Sarojini Naidu, the second woman President of INC

Harindranath received the civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan in 1973

Harindranath Chattopadhyay was an Indian English poet, a dramatist, an actor, a musician and a member of the 1st lok sabha from Vijayawada constituency. He was the younger brother of Sarojini Naidu the second woman President of the Indian National Congress and first Indian woman to hold the position, and Virendra Nath Chattopadhyay, an international communist revolutionary. The Government of India awarded him the civilian honor of the Padma Bhushan in 1973.