[KQQL]

Peres is a wimp, Arafat is not a Christian.

[lavaroise]

Arafat is simply signaling to the world his secret association with a Polish pope that received the KGB's blessings before being sent to Rome.

[Catspaw]

Arafat wants to provoke an incident and wants the Pope to give him cover.

It's called "divide and conquer." Oldest trick in the book. The Pope had better not give Arafat any support in this crass manipulation.

[Michael2001]

I live in a very old school, very Soutern, very Baptist part of town. I'm always defending Catholics and the Pope to my neighbors and to the people in my Church. The Pope will lose my respect if he caves in to Arafat here.

[hsszionist]

As near as I can tell by reviewing the religious doctrines of the parties, only the pope should attend, he represents the organization who started the observation of December 25 as the birthday of CHrist instead of the birthday of Mithra the sun god.

[DaughterofEve]

Mark 13:14
"When you see `the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong--
let the reader understand--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains."

It just comes to mind.

[Lady GOP]

A Palestinian boy participates, in front of a poster of Osama bin Laden, in a demonstration by various Palestinian political factions marking the anniversary of the Palestinian uprising against Israel, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem Friday Sept. 28, 2001. Writing in Arabic on poster reads "The Islamic Jihad movement stands beside all honorable people of our nation". The Islamic Jihad is a radical Palestinian group. (AP Photo)

[dennisw]

... 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."

The despicable old coot is a Muslim. I sure hope Israel keeps him away. Why on earth give this swine a political boost. Arafat at Bethlehem at Christmas time. A new phony Muslim "tradition".

[MissAmericanPie]

Arafat might think about being careful messing around with Christian celebrations for political reasons. If he makes it to Bethlehem it will be his seventh time to attend, a holy number. God might slay him in the Spirit, lay him out in front of everyone, and convert him. Then what is he going to do?

[onedoug]

Send in the Swiss Guards!

[God_isa_Jew]

"..............Arafat calls on Pope for backing in Christmas showdown with Israel................"

The current 'intifada' would not have happened had not 'the vicar of Christ', the 'infallible one', not visited Jerusalem in 1999. Arafat's political relationship with the vicar of darkness is clearly reminiscent of another antisemitic regime, The Third Reich.

[Torie]

This thread overall is a total embarrassment, particularly on Christmas Eve. Just my two cents.