Irishwoman is one of eight peace activists held by Israelis

THE MIDDLE EAST: Eight foreign peace activists, including an Irish nurse, four US citizens, two Swedes and a Canadian, are being held in a police lock-up at the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim in the occupied West Bank. Ms Georgina Reeves, a spokeswoman for the International Solidarity Movement, to which the activists belong, told The Irish Times that on Saturday she visited the women, including Ms Mary Kelly of Cork, who were "consulting with a lawyer about their options."

Ms Reeves said it was expected that the activists would be deported shortly. Two members of the group, a Briton and a Dane, have already been put on flights home.

Ms Kelly has also received a consular visit in accordance with normal diplomatic practice, but the Department of Foreign Affairs refused to comment on her situation.

The eight belonged to a group of 10 foreign peace activists who were forcibly removed by the Israeli army from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Friday afternoon after the sanctuary was evacuated by 39 Palestinian militants and 84 civilians and clerics. The activists gained entry to the church, revered as the birthplace of Christ, during a demonstration on May 2nd. Their mission was to deliver desperately needed food and medical supplies to those besieged inside the church since April 2nd. As the only health professional among the activists, Ms Kelly offered medical assistance to the wounded. During the 39-day siege, eight Palestinians were killed and several wounded by Israeli snipers.

Ms Kelly arrived in the West Bank at the end of March, where she began by caring for Palestinians in the Bethlehem-area refugee camps. In mid-April, she and other activists carrying supplies walked into the besieged Balata camp near Nablus in the northern West Bank. Ms Kelly worked there oambulances trying to evacuate the wounded under fire and accompanied Palestinian medical professionals.