Ireland will not be accepting Palestinian militants who have left the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem after five-week siege by the Israeli army.
A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman confirmed to ireland.comthe militants would not be taken in by the State, despite reports that a tentative agreement had been reached.
The 13 left the church this morning for Cyprus, from where they will be later transferred to third countries. Italy and Spain were also reported to be possible third countries.
Italy had refused to take in the militants, saying they had not been officially asked prior to a Palestinian/Israeli deal.
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