Posted on 12/23/2001 3:22:14 AM PST by KQQL
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat tried to enlist the backing of Pope John Paul II in a Christmas showdown with Israel, as he vowed to defy an Israeli ban on him attending midnight mass in Bethlehem.
Israel, which blasted his helicopters in an air raid on Gaza City three weeks ago and then ringed his West Bank headquarters with tanks, said Arafat cannot make his traditional appearance at the Bethlehem service until he arrests the killers of a cabinet minister.
"No one can prevent me from reaching Bethlehem," Arafat told reporters in Ramallah, where he has been under virtual house arrest since the December 3 raids blitzed his Gaza heliport.
The 72-year-old Palestinian leader had filed an official request on Saturday to attend the midnight service in Bethlehem, in the Franciscan church of Saint Catherine next to the Church of the Nativity, which according to Christian tradition was built on the site of Jesus' birthplace,
"It is my duty, and I will see to it that I fulfil it," he said on Voice of Palestine radio. "I will go there even if I have to go on foot."
However, Israel's security cabinet rejected his bid to make the visit he has made every year since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1995.
"The security cabinet made its decision based on the fact that Arafat is not working to dismantle terror organizations and to foil terror attacks against Israel and to arrest and punish terrorists, including the murderers of tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi," a government statement said.
The Israeli media said the vote was close, however, with eight opposed and six in favour of avoiding a public showdown with Arafat, whose international support has began to climb back since hitting rock bottom this month amid a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings.
Israel wants Arafat to arrest the fugitive militants who gunned down Zeevi in Jerusalem on October 17, and also arrest Ahmed Sadat, head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestinian, which claimed the assassination in revenge for Israel's killing of his predecessor.
A senior Palestinian security official told AFP there were intense discussions underway with his Israeli counterparts, who had been informed of Arafat's determination to make the journey despite the security cabinet's decision.
The official said they had told the Israelis Arafat was prepared to drive to the Israeli army checkpoint at Qalandiya, on the northern edge of Jerusalem, for a public face-off if necessary.
And Palestinian cabinet secretary Ahmed Abdul Rahman appealed to Pope John Paul II to intercede to allow Arafat, a Muslim, to attend the mass.
"I call on the Pope to intervene to stop this attack on religious traditions and against the Palestinian people. We condemn this very strongly and the Palestinian people are angry," he said.
However, an official in Sharon's office told AFP that Arafat was refused because he knew where Zeevi's killers were hiding, only a few kilometres from his compound in Ramallah, but Arafat was not making the arrests.
Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres has publicly declared he is against banning Arafat from attending the religious celebrations.
I have heard some pretty stupid statements on this forum,but that one has to be the stupidest.The Pope DID NOT await the KGBs blessing,who do you think sicced Ali Ahmet on him?
I'm not going to be as harsh as peabears, but you're full of sh!t.
Oh, and please provide proof of this statement. I want to see the source of your information.
14:02 Dec-23-01, 8 Tevet 5762
Israel Promises to Arrest Arafat if He Enters Bethlehem (IsraelNationalNews.com) Despite Israel’s ban on Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat’s attending Christmas Mass in Bethlehem, Arafat today announced he will enter and confront Israeli soldiers who try to stop him.
“No one will prevent me from travelling to Ramallah,” he said. Arafat declared he would take part in Bethlehem’s Christmas activities, “with or without Israeli approval,” even if he has to travel on foot to the church in order to do so.
Diplomatic sources in Jerusalem made clear Arafat would not make it past the 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 made clear this is no way constitutes an encroachment on freedom of religion for Arafat himself is a Muslim.
It's called "divide and conquer." Oldest trick in the book. The Pope had better not give Arafat any support in this crass manipulation.
The Pope and his peace and love speeches over ISrael and Palestine are hardly of any comfort when we see that the healing requested involves using Israeli civilian bodies as human shields and recognizing the existence of a Palestinian Cult of death and Sewage as in the Soviet Union. #
N'ough said! This Pope is a fraud.
Cant wait to see the ugly anteater being taken away in cuffs...ha!
because Arafat is appealing to him ? Has John Paul said something in this matter to earn your accusation ? At the very least you should give him the benefit of the doubt and await his response, if any. BTW Arafat's wife is a CINO. Who else would marry and carry the seed of an Islamic terrorist ?
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