Exiled Palestinian militants sidelined in Ireland

DUBLIN, June 30 (Reuters) Watching events unfold from afar in Ireland, exiled Palestinian militant Jihad Jara feels ashamed at the descent into enmity among Palestinians after Islamist group Hamas took over the Gaza Strip this month.

Jara is among 13 Palestinian militants who were deported to European countries in 2002 as part of a deal to end an Israeli army siege at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity in the occupied West Bank.

''What is happening in Palestine is so strange, we are in shock. We thought Israel was our enemy,'' said Jara as he took a long puff from a cigarette at a beer garden near his home in a Dublin suburb.

Hamas routed forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of the rival Fatah faction, leaving the coastal enclave politically split from the larger West Bank.

Abbas formed a emergency government in the West Bank after dismissing a unity cabinet led by Hamas. Both sides have accused each other of mounting a ''coup''.

For Jara, one of the founders of Palestinian militant group Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades which is part of Fatah, the split appears more stark viewed from the outside.

''When you are far you can see everything more clearly,'' he said. ''What Hamas did is unforgivable. No one knows what will happen now.'' ''It is bad for our country, our name. How will people view us now in the world?'' Dozens of gunmen took shelter in the Church of the Nativity, during a month-long siege by Israeli troops in 2002 who were trying to flush them out during an offensive in the West Bank.

Jara, 35, said he was in close contact with comrades, who were sent to other European countries which included Greece and Spain. A further 26 gunmen were deported to Gaza by Israel, many of whom have been trying to flee after Hamas took control.

''The situation is very difficult for them over there. People don't really want to stay in Gaza any more,'' said Jara.

Rami Eid Kamel, a second Palestinian militant sent to Ireland under the deal, lives close to Jara.

Neither is allowed to leave Ireland and they spend much of their time watching news and keeping in touch with relatives in their home town of Bethlehem.

They say they lead ''low-key lives'' and have found it hard to adjust in Ireland despite warm ties with locals. Jara briefly fled to Spain, but was allowed to return by Irish authorities.

''Our bodies are outside Palestine, but our souls are still there,'' Kamel, 28, said.

Jara said he had not seen his wife and four sons in over five years. ''We do nothing all day. We are waiting to go back home,'' he said.

PRISONER DEAL Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday he was ready to free 250 Fatah prisoners, held by Israel and deemed not to have ''blood on their hands'', in a bid to bolster Abbas.

It remained to be seen if the goodwill gesture would open up the prospects for the exiled militants to return. Any deal will involve their commitment to abandoning violence.

Israeli government spokeswoman Miri Eisin said it had not received any specific request by the Palestinian Authority over the fighters.

''We are stabilising the situation with Abu Mazen and the new government and we are taking it one step at a time,'' she said, referring to Abbas's nickname.

Both Jara and Kamel, also a founder of Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, describe themselves as ''freedom fighters''. Israel has accused them of carrying out attacks on Israelis, including shootings.

''Always there are victims in a war,'' Jara said. ''I did what I could. Now is a time for something else.'' Kamel, who lost his arm fighting Israelis, said: ''Maybe our time to fight is over. It is a different generation now.'' REUTERS SV BST0918