Arafat wants to go out and meet his friends - but he\'s not sure if Israel will let him. The Islamic States Conference is convening in Qatar tomorrow, and Qatar is attempting to exert pressure, via the U.S., to get Israel to allow him to come. Israel has permitted Nabil Shaath, responsible for foreign affairs for the Palestinian Authority, to attend the conference; Qatar had threatened to withdraw Shimon Peres\' invitation if Shaath was not permitted to come. Prime Minister Sharon\'s aides said that as of early afternoon, Arafat had not officially requested permission to attend the conference; by late afternoon, it was learned that a request had been submitted, and that Sharon and Ben-Eliezer would consider it this evening.



Minister Danny Naveh said today that in light of last week\'s government decision stating that the PA supports terrorism, Arafat must not be permitted to leave tomorrow. \"Instead of flying around the world,\" Naveh said, \"he should stay home and fight against terrorism.\"