Ha'aretz

Sunday, December 23, 2001 Tevet 8, 5762 Israel Time: 07:21 (GMT+2) 08:23 23/12/2001 Last update - 18:54 23/12/2001 Arafat's office: PA Chairman won't leave for Bethlehem By Aluf Benn, Ha'aretz Correspondent, Ha'aretz Service and Agencies Arafat: I will go to Bethlehem even if I have to walk. (Photo: AP) Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's office said Sunday afternoon the Palestinian leader will not participate in the Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem if Israel bans him from going, Army Radio reported Sunday afternoon. This, despite mounting international and domestic pressure on the Sharon government to let Arafat travel to the West Bank city.

Earlier Sunday sources close to Arafat said that in spite of an Israeli ban on him attending Christmas Mass in Bethlehem, his convoy would make its way to the city, and confront Israeli soldiers who try to block his way.

Diplomatic sources in Jerusalem said in response that Israel would not let Arafat through the IDF checkpoints. "We will not give in to the head of an entity that supports terror, while master terrorists roam free at his side." they said. The Prime Minister's Office said that Israel respected freedom of religion, but that Arafat himself was Muslim.

Arafat repeated his pledge Sunday morning to go to Bethlehem for Christmas, saying, "No one will prevent me from travelling to Bethlehem."

Arafat had declared Saturday that he would take part in Christmas mass in Bethlehem "with or without Israeli approval," even if he has to travel on foot to the church in order to take part.

"I will go [to Bethlehem] although Israel will not give me coordination. I will go, even walking," the PA Chairman told members of two American Jewish groups, Jewish Unity for a Just Peace, and Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel.

The government made its decision late Saturday night, saying that the Palestinian leader had not done enough to clamp down on terror organizations.

The decision was taken after a telephone survey of ministers in the security cabinet, where the right-wing has a majority. Sharon's office said in a statement that, "The cabinet made its decision based on the fact that Arafat is not acting to dismantle Palestinian terror organizations and to prevent terror against Israel from Palestinian Authority areas."

After much speculation over Arafat's Christmas plans, the Palestinian Authority submitted a request to Israel Saturday to allow Arafat to travel to Bethlehem from his office in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Arafat has been confined to Ramallah for the last two weeks, ever since the IDF destroyed his helicopters and imposed a closure on the city following a spate of deadly suicide bombings in Jerusalem and Haifa that left 25 dead.

Sources in Sharon's office said Friday that Arafat would not be allowed to take part in the mass unless two of Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi's murderers were arrested. "Arafat has a lot of work to do in Ramallah," Sharon spokesman Ra'anan Gissin said. "Arafat must arrest Ze'evi's murderers," he added.

The United States proposed to the Israeli Embassy in Washington that Israel allow Arafat to attend Christmas Mass in Bethlehem, Israel Radio reported Sunday. The U.S. request came before the government voted on the isue. The Americans said that if Arafat was not allowed to attend the mass, they would make their objection public.

The European Union contacted Foreign Ministry Director-General Avi Gil and expressed support for Arafat's request. An Israeli denial of the request, said EU officials, will not be taken well in the Christian world.

Deputy public security minister, Gideon Ezra, of the Likud, criticized the decision, saying that it was important for the region that "signs of joy issue from Bethlehem" and that this would not happen if Arafat was not present. Ezra suggested that the decision to bar Arafat from travelling to Bethlehem, as he has done since 1995, might be revisited.

Opposition leader Yossi Sarid (Meretz) said that the cabinet's decision was "laying the groundwork" for the next terror attack, and that instead of encouraging Arafat to take measures to fight terror, Sharon was doing everything to humiliate and weaken him.

Jibril Rajoub, the head of preventive security in the West Bank, said the decision indicated that Israel was not interested in peace and was being led by a "government of war."

Defense Ministry eases travel restrictions on Christians The Defense Ministry has decided to ease restrictions on Palestinians ahead of the Christmas holiday, Israel Radio reported Sunday. Christians from Israel will be permitted to travel to Bethlehem to attend religious ceremonies and visit relatives. Piligrims will be able to travel to Bethlehem in Israeli buses and Christians from the territories will be permitted to travel to Israel to attend religious ceremonies and to visit relatives.

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2001

Answers

Arafat insisting on going to mass. What a gold-plated farce!

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2001

I recall Arafat saying a year or so ago something to the effect that he wanted to make the Holy Lands safe for Muslims and Christians. If the Pope were a more active player in this skirmish, I can't imagine Arafat continuing his crusade on behalf of Christians. Yeah, right.

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2001