Italy's government has rejected proposals to accept 13 Palestinian militants as part of a deal to end the siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem by the Israeli army. The Italian government states that it was never consulted on this matter and has many questions regarding the legal status of the militants and how they would potentially be held or imprisoned. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke by phone on Tuesday with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in hopes of changing his mind on the issue. According to Richard Boucher, spokesman for the U.S. State Department, Powell hopes that Italy will accept at least several of the exiles. The militants are among 100 Palestinians who have sought refuge in the Church of the Nativity since the Israeli incursion into Bethlehem on April 2.
Italy's Government Refuses to Accept Militant Palestinians
Italy's government has declined to accept 13 Palestinian militants as part of a deal to end the siege of the Church of the Nativity. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is attempting to persuade Italy to reconsider. This situation highlights the complexities of international negotiations surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Italy's government rejected accepting Palestinian militants amid U.S. diplomatic efforts.
- Italian government announce 13 Palestinian militants
- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell negotiate Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Italy's refusal to accept militants reflects broader geopolitical tensions.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%