Cyprus seeks to alienate a Palestinian evacuee

The Cypriot minister of Justice Nicos Koshis said on Tuesday that one of the 13 Palestinian evacuees who were expelled by Israel, following the siege on the "Church of the Nativity" in Bethlehem, who stayed in Cyprus might be transported to another country.

In a press conference he held at the headquarters of the parliament, Koshis said that Abdullah Dawoud ( 40 year old ) refused the protection of the police and does not inform the authorities about his moves. A matter which provoked the concern of the Cypriot authorities on his activities. Koshis continued "he creates problems for us and does not accept cooperation with us. He does not tell any body about his moves and activities in contrary what he has to."

He said "if he continues to do so we will seek to send him to another place." Israel accused Dawoud , who was the director for Palestinian Authority intelligence in Bethlehem, that he had organized weapons and arms smuggling operations and attacks against Israel. Abdullah Dawoud was among the 13 Palestinians who held a sit in for 29 days in the besieged church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and were afterwards expelled on May 10 after the end of the siege imposed on the church.

The other 12 expelled Palestinians were transferred from Cyprus to other European states.