Israelis issue statement ahead of Palestinians' arrival

The Israeli embassy has issued a statement ahead of the arrival in Dublin of two Palestinians, involved in the siege of Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity.

The two have already arrived in Madrid, and will travel to Ireland before the weekend, a Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman said.

The Israeli embassy said that, ideally, all 13 militants involved in the stand-off should have been tried in an Israeli court.

It added that it accepted the compromise solution to exile the 13, partially to prevent further desecration of the inside of the historic chapel.

The identities of the two Palestinians coming to Ireland remains unclear.