Israel freezes Bethlehem agreement for lack a host for the expelled Palestinians
Palestine-Israel, Military, 5/8/2002

A spokesman for the Israeli occupation army said on Tuesday that the implementation of the agreement concerning lifting the siege from the church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is frozen because there is no country which is ready to accept "the Palestinian fighters who are expelled."

In a press conference at the Nativity church square, Israeli Lt. Colonel Olevie Ravovitch said that the "implementation of the agreement has been delayed because there is no country which is ready to accept what he called 'terrorists'." However, the Italian foreign ministry announced that Italy refuses to receive the besieged Palestinians in the church of Nativity in Bethlehem which Israel calls for expelling them.

In a statement the Italian foreign ministry said that the issue of Italy's accommodating these Palestinians was never discussed and will not be accepted in the current phase."

On the other hand the other 84 persons -- inside the church out of a total list of 123 names given by a European delegate by the end of the week-- will be allowed to go free after they will be inspected by the Israeli army. According to Palestinian officials the agreement was signed on Monday evening. The governor of Bethlehem Muhammad al-Madani announced earlier that an agreement was reached on lifting the siege imposed on the church of Nativity. Al-Madani explained that officials at the Palestinian security department entered the church to declare the agreement and gather the besieged together for their nearby release.

Previous Stories:
  UN General Assembly to resume emergency special session on Middle East   (5/7/2002)
  Church of Nativity agreement states expelling six Palestinians, 35 for trials   (5/7/2002)
  Four Palestinians from Hamas, the Islamic Jihad killed in Gaza   (5/7/2002)
  Oreikat and Sharon's report   (5/7/2002)
  Four children killed by Israel   (5/6/2002)
  Israel detains more Hamas, Islamic Jihad members   (5/4/2002)
  One Israeli army officer killed in Nablus   (5/4/2002)

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