Palestinian fighters left the Church of the Nativity for exile from the West Bank yesterday under a deal that ended a 38-day standoff and opened the way for Israeli troops to pull out of Bethlehem.
Thirteen men on Israel's most-wanted list were quickly flown to Cyprus, the first stop in an exile abroad which will take them to third countries under a European-brokered deal.
Twenty-six others considered less serious offenders by Israel were expelled from the West Bank and taken by armored bus to Gaza, where they were greeted as heroes by flag-waving crowds and will be housed in a smart beachside hotel.
Despite the breakthrough, under which scores of civilians, clergy and police also left the site, tensions remained high.
Three people were slightly hurt in an apparent grenade attack in southern Israel. Palestinians were bracing for an expected military onslaught in the Gaza Strip after a suicide bombing near Tel Aviv on Tuesday.
Israel has called up reservists and made no secret that it plans to launch a new military operation after winding down a crushing offensive in the West Bank that followed suicide attacks in a 19-month-old revolt against Israeli occupation.
"This is a small episode, a small component of a larger and more complex picture," Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi said of the end of the Bethlehem siege, which began when gunmen took refuge in the church as troops entered the city on April 2.
"Israel is still besieging all the Palestinian towns, cities and villages. Israel is preparing military incursions, carrying out incursions," she said in a television interview.
Army officials confirmed a troop and tank withdrawal would follow the deal in Bethlehem, but did not say when.
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, speaking during a visit to Italy, said the pullout would take place in a "matter of hours or days."
With heavily armed Israeli soldiers ringing historic Manger Square and camera crews from around the world looking on, the militants emerged. Many looked haggard and tired.
Some strode defiantly past the troops after leaving the church. One was carried out on a stretcher. Another knelt and kissed the ancient stones outside the church, built on the spot revered by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus.
Palestinian women relatives of the militants stood on nearby rooftops calling out the men's names. Some were wailing and others shouted abuse at Israeli troops.
One by one the 13 slated for exile abroad entered a bus which took them to Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion airport. A British military aircraft flew them to Cyprus, where they were taken to a seafront hotel.
European diplomatic sources said Italy, Spain and other countries were willing to take some of the wanted gunmen.
EU diplomats said the final destinations of the 13 men might be finalized only when EU foreign ministers hold a regular meeting in Brussels on Monday.
Another 26 Palestinians boarded a bus and were taken to the Gaza Strip.
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