The Cabinet decided last night, via a telephone vote, to turn down PLO chief Yasser Arafat\'s request to participate in the Christmas ceremonies in Bethlehem this week. The ministers resolved that only if the PA takes immediate action to arrest terrorists such as the murderers of Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi, dismantle Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and stop incitement, would he be permitted to leave.
Prime Minister Sharon was against granting Arafat\'s request, but when he saw that he was in the minority in the three-man mini-security cabinet - Ministers Peres and Ben-Eliezer wanted to let Arafat go - he determined that the decision would be made in the full Cabinet. The Labor party ministers will convene today to discuss their latest defeat within the government. In light of their dwindling public support, their political options are quite limited.
Jordan had prepared a helicopter with which to fly Arafat from Ramallah to Bethlehem. Arafat said that he would not be prevented from fulfilling his desire to take part in the Christian ceremony, and would walk if he had to. It\'s only about 22 kilometers from Ramallah to Bethlehem, with Jerusalem along the way. IDF forces are preparing for this eventuality, and particularly for a scenario in which a mob of Arabs will accompany Arafat to the Ramah checkpoint, between Ramallah and Jerusalem, hoping to initiate a staged clash with Israeli forces in front of television cameras. The army has sent reinforcements to all checkpoints in the southern Ramallah area.
Prime Minister Sharon was against granting Arafat\'s request, but when he saw that he was in the minority in the three-man mini-security cabinet - Ministers Peres and Ben-Eliezer wanted to let Arafat go - he determined that the decision would be made in the full Cabinet. The Labor party ministers will convene today to discuss their latest defeat within the government. In light of their dwindling public support, their political options are quite limited.
Jordan had prepared a helicopter with which to fly Arafat from Ramallah to Bethlehem. Arafat said that he would not be prevented from fulfilling his desire to take part in the Christian ceremony, and would walk if he had to. It\'s only about 22 kilometers from Ramallah to Bethlehem, with Jerusalem along the way. IDF forces are preparing for this eventuality, and particularly for a scenario in which a mob of Arabs will accompany Arafat to the Ramah checkpoint, between Ramallah and Jerusalem, hoping to initiate a staged clash with Israeli forces in front of television cameras. The army has sent reinforcements to all checkpoints in the southern Ramallah area.