§ Denzil DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the legal status will be within the EU of the 13 Palestinians who were brought out of Palestine following the end of the siege of the Church of the Nativity. [58654]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe 12 Palestinians accepted by Belgium, Greece, Spain, Ireland, Italy and Portugal are received on a temporary basis and exclusively on humanitarian grounds. In accordance with the Common Position concerning the temporary reception by member states of the European Union of certain Palestinians, the Palestinians will receive a national permit to enter and stay in the territory of the relevant member state for a period of up to 12 months.