While Yasser Arafat is alive and being treated in France, Israel and Arabs already are at odds on where to bury him, whenever he dies. Wakf officials in charge of the Temple Mount insist the Temple Mount will be the burial grounds for the ailing Palestinian Authority leader. Israel officials say there is “no way” it will happen.
The Israeli government already has a nightmare vision of several hundred thousand Arabs marching towards Jerusalem with Arafat’s coffin. They hope they will be able to convince Arab officials to accept a defense ministry recommendation leaked in July that he be buried in Abu Dis, a site eastern Jerusalem that overlooks the Temple Mount.
Arab officials might agree to the idea on the grounds that a huge mob at the Temple Mount could turn into a riot as well as cause the entire complex to collapse. Israeli archaeologists from both ends of the political spectrum fear that recent illegal construction on the site as well as Arab removal of remains of the Second Temple could cause a huge disaster.
Feisel Husseini, Arafat’s former representative in Jerusalem, was buried on the Temple Mount in 2001 when thousands of Arabs waving PA flags essentially took over parts of northern Jerusalem during the funeral procession. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon refused to allow Arafat to enter Jerusalem for the funeral.
"The police must be prepared for a funeral procession in which the Arabs will try to burst into Jerusalem,” said MK Benny Elon of the National Union party. “It could be an explosive situation...We must not allow the scenes from Husseini's wild and nationalistic funeral, which was a blow to Israel's sovereignty over Jerusalem, to repeat themselves."
National Union MK Uri Ariel warned, "Many thousands of right-wing demonstrators will bodily prevent Arafat from being buried in Jerusalem."
MK Eli Yishai (Shas) called on Prime Minister Sharon to freeze the disengagement plan, in light of Arafat's illness. The unilateral plan is based on the fact, according to Sharon, that there is no one in the Palestinian Authority with whom Israel can negotiate.
MK Chaim Ramon (Labor), who is working tirelessly to ensure that Israel withdraw from Gaza as soon as possible, also is concerned that Arafat's approaching death might disturb the disengagement timetable. Former Labor MK Haggai Merom mocked Ramon earlier this month, saying, "Ramon has only one goal: to make sure his son doesn't have to serve in Gaza. For him, the whole issue is just a countdown until the date his son turns 18." Ramon expressed his concerns to Army Radio.
Education Minister Limor Livnat also implied that the disengagement should be held up, saying, "If Arafat is out of the picture, it will be very easy to return to the diplomatic process and the Road Map." She said that this would still be contingent upon finding a "genuine partner on the other side."
The Israeli government already has a nightmare vision of several hundred thousand Arabs marching towards Jerusalem with Arafat’s coffin. They hope they will be able to convince Arab officials to accept a defense ministry recommendation leaked in July that he be buried in Abu Dis, a site eastern Jerusalem that overlooks the Temple Mount.
Israeli police on the Temple Mount
Arab officials might agree to the idea on the grounds that a huge mob at the Temple Mount could turn into a riot as well as cause the entire complex to collapse. Israeli archaeologists from both ends of the political spectrum fear that recent illegal construction on the site as well as Arab removal of remains of the Second Temple could cause a huge disaster.
Feisel Husseini, Arafat’s former representative in Jerusalem, was buried on the Temple Mount in 2001 when thousands of Arabs waving PA flags essentially took over parts of northern Jerusalem during the funeral procession. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon refused to allow Arafat to enter Jerusalem for the funeral.
"The police must be prepared for a funeral procession in which the Arabs will try to burst into Jerusalem,” said MK Benny Elon of the National Union party. “It could be an explosive situation...We must not allow the scenes from Husseini's wild and nationalistic funeral, which was a blow to Israel's sovereignty over Jerusalem, to repeat themselves."
National Union MK Uri Ariel warned, "Many thousands of right-wing demonstrators will bodily prevent Arafat from being buried in Jerusalem."
MK Eli Yishai (Shas) called on Prime Minister Sharon to freeze the disengagement plan, in light of Arafat's illness. The unilateral plan is based on the fact, according to Sharon, that there is no one in the Palestinian Authority with whom Israel can negotiate.
MK Chaim Ramon (Labor), who is working tirelessly to ensure that Israel withdraw from Gaza as soon as possible, also is concerned that Arafat's approaching death might disturb the disengagement timetable. Former Labor MK Haggai Merom mocked Ramon earlier this month, saying, "Ramon has only one goal: to make sure his son doesn't have to serve in Gaza. For him, the whole issue is just a countdown until the date his son turns 18." Ramon expressed his concerns to Army Radio.
Education Minister Limor Livnat also implied that the disengagement should be held up, saying, "If Arafat is out of the picture, it will be very easy to return to the diplomatic process and the Road Map." She said that this would still be contingent upon finding a "genuine partner on the other side."