Plans completed for Palestinian militants' arrival
The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that arrangements for the arrival of two Palestinian militants in Ireland have been finalised.
The two are part of a group of 13 men exiled in the EU as part of a deal which ended the Church of the Nativity siege in Bethlehem.
A spokesman for the Department said all 13 had expressed their gratitude to the countries offering them a temporary home, and had agreed to abide by the laws and policies of those States.
The militants left the Bethlehem shrine two weeks ago after a five-week long stand-off with Israeli soldiers.
Palestinian delegate to Ireland, Ali Hamizeh said he doesn’t expect the two men to remain in Ireland for long.
“Their presence here is not normal; their normal life should be in their country of Palestine. I cannot see why they should be Ireland or Belgium or Italy when they have a country and families there,” he said.
