An Israeli army spokesman has confirmed a deal had been struck to end the siege at Bethlehem's Nativity Church, but said its implementation had been delayed as no country had agreed to accept the Palestinian militants inside the church.
"We have reached an understanding to resolve the crisis at the Nativity Church. We intend to implement this agreement. The implementation has been delayed because there is no country willing to accept the terrorists and we are waiting for progress," Lieutenant Colonel Olivier Rafowicz told reporters.
Italy said earlier it could not consider the possibility of granting exile to Palestinian gunmen in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity for now.
A Foreign Ministry statement said Italy had not received any official request to grant asylum to the Palestinians.
"The possibility of receiving Palestinian citizens in Italy has never been raised (officially) and therefore at the current state of affairs it cannot be considered, a statement said.
Palestinian sources had said that under an accord approved by Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat, 13 militants inside the church would be exiled to Italy and 26 others sent to the Gaza Strip.
The deal would see Israeli troops leave Bethlehem, the last major West Bank town from which Israeli troops have not yet withdrawn since easing their campaign against suicide bomber attacks inside Israel.
But Italian officials said the deal had been made without their knowledge and were seeking further details.
Elsewhere, five Palestinian militants were detained in Israeli operations against alleged suicide bombers. One was held in Beit Sahour east of Bethlehem and four in a village near Nablus, an army spokesman said.
At least 1,344 Palestinians and 459 Israelis have died since the Palestinian uprising began in September 2000.
AFP
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