Israeli Prime Minister Prevents Arafat From Attending Christmas Mass in Bethlehem

JERUSALEM, December 25, 2001 - Israel prevented a bid by Yasser Arafat to sneak into Bethlehem last night -- in the car of the senior Catholic representative in the Holy Land -- and barred him from Christmas Eve services, officials said.

Arafat had repeatedly vowed to attend Midnight Mass in the town where Jesus was born, despite Israeli tanks that have surrounded his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah for two weeks.

On Saturday, he began a war of nerves by declaring, "I will go there [Bethlehem] by foot if necessary."

But later on Saturday, Israel's defense Cabinet reiterated a policy that Arafat not be allowed to leave Ramallah until he arrests four terrorists from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine near him in Ramallah.

Israeli intelligence identified the four as Hamdi Kuran and Basel al-Asmar, the gunmen who killed Israeli Tourism Minister Rechavam Zeevi in October, and their commanders, Ahmed Sadat and Jihad Ulee.

Early yesterday, Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo insisted Arafat would attend services at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, despite the Israeli policy.

Rabbo quoted the PLO leader as telling a group of Christians visiting Ramallah, "See you in Bethlehem tonight."

Arafat also urged foreign leaders to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to free him for the night.

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