EU representatives failed to work out the legal terms for taking in 13 Palestinians expelled from Israel after taking refuge in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, European sources said.
EU ambassadors ended a one-day meeting Wednesday with no agreement but said they would hold more talks on Thursday, the sources told AFP. "A lot of details have been settled but there is still work to do," said an official close to the Spanish EU presidency.
The key sticking point was the status to be granted to the Palestinians. Six EU states have expressed readiness to host the Palestinians: Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
But the governments who agree to take in the Palestinians "would like to find wording that would mean that all of the EU would be committed in one way or another," said a diplomat.
The failure to reach a quick agreement on Wednesday came as a security official in Cyprus warned that the 13 were at risk in the Mediterranean island. "The dangers posed to their safety increases the longer they stay here because of the island's proximity to the Middle East," said the security source.
The Greek Cypriot daily Phileleftheros reported that security arrangements at the hotel were reviewed due to fears that Israel would change its mind and demand the 13 back. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
