Italian city could take militants

One of the 13 Palestinian militants waves after leaving the church in Bethlehem

ORVIETO, Italy (CNN) -- A sister city of Bethlehem, Orvieto lies in the foothills of Italy's Appenine mountains.

Its best-known export is Orvieto Classico wine. The city's best-known import may soon be Palestinian militants.

Orvieto's mayor says the town is ready to receive one or more of them -- not out of solidarity with the militants, but out of compassion for the people of Bethelehem, caught in the middle of Israel's standoff with the Palestinian gunmen.

"It's an act of love towards Bethlehem," says Mayor Stefano Cimicchi.

The most oft-cited potential place of refuge for the militants is a Catholic monastery, and there are many around Orvieto and across Italy.

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Catholic monasteries around the world have a proud tradition of hospitality. Some here even make money from it as bed and breakfasts.

For many Italians, that's just the problem. Why such a beautiful surroundings for a bunch of Palestinian militants? Why such a "golden exile"?

"Golden exile" is exactly what an editorial in Italy's leading Catholic newspaper Avvenire calls it. And a new poll says 69 percent of Italians it surveyed want their government to keep the militants out.

In Orvieto, the opinions are split.

"They're murderers. We shouldn't take them," says Anna-Rossa Ridoff, a homemaker.

"I think as long as it's done in the right way, I think yes," says archivist Marcello Paradiso.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi hesitated to accept the Palestinians in part because there were too many unanswered questions: Would the militants be refugees or prisoners? Where exactly would they stay? When would they leave? Where would they go after Italy?

Cimiccho says if Orvieto is picked, exile may not be so golden after all. He says the city jail is another possibility.

Either way, the mayor and others here say they're willing to do something to help Bethlehem, their sister city in distress -- willing enough to make this medieval city a byway for some of Israel's most wanted.