Department seeks talks on Palestinian militant

The Department of Foreign Affairs says it is "seeking an urgent meeting" with the Delegate-General of Palestine, Mr Ali Halimeh, to discuss the case of two Palestinian militants invited here last year under the auspices of the EU.

The Palestinian Authority meanwhile expects to find a new host country for one of them within the next month.

Mr Halimeh said he had "heard nothing about a meeting" from the Department.

The situation arises after reports yesterday that one of the two, Mr Jihad Jara - described by Israel as a "senior terrorist" - has been living homeless in Dublin for the past five months.

Mr Jara (31) is one of 13 Palestinians taken out of that state last year by the EU, and then taken in by six EU countries, in a deal aimed at ending a long-running siege in Bethlehem.

He said yesterday that although he and his compatriot, Mr Rami Kamel (23), had been provided with accommodation in Finglas last May, Mr Kamel had since married an Irish woman. Mr Jara therefore could not, as a Muslim, remain in the house alone with a woman who was not a relative. Mr Halimeh confirmed these details yesterday and, expressing disappointment that he had "gone to the press", said Mr Jara "does not want to stay in Ireland".

"The situation is that these men are guests of the Irish nation and Ireland helped solve the problem for them. Ireland has been very kind and supportive . . . But he wants to be in an Arab country."

He said he could not go back to Palestine, where he has a wife and four small children, as he is a "wanted terrorist" according to the Israeli authorities.

The Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, said Mr Halimeh, was talking with "a number of Arab countries" in an effort to find a new home for Mr Jara. He hoped a solution would be found "over the next month".

A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice would give no comment on the details of Mr Jara's case. However, she said Ireland had complied in full with its obligations under the EU Common Position of the 21st May 2002, which facilitated the entry of Mr Jara and Mr Kamel. She added the Department of Foreign Affairs was "seeking an urgent meeting" with Mr Halimeh.