Cork women safe as Mideast violence continues

Two Cork women who were attacked by Israeli soldiers in the Middle East at the weekend are said to be safe and well.

The group representing the women, the Cork Peace Alliance, has heard from both members, who are in the Middle East as international observers.

Mary Kelly, who's from Cork city, but lives in west Cork, was in a Palestinian refugee camp in Bethlehem when she was shot at by Israeli tanks and helicopters.

She's serving with a group of international peace activists in Palestine to act as a group of human shields to protect civilians from Israeli aggression.

It's understood she phoned home last night.

She said Israelis were attacking the camp with tanks and helicopters.

Meanwhile, Caoimhe Butterly, who's also from Cork, is in Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah.

Both women have now contacted home and both are unhurt.

The women have also pledged to stay on in the Middle East.