"As long as I'm here - and I'm not planning to leave any time soon - Arafat will not be buried in Jerusalem." So said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at today's Cabinet meeting.
Sharon had been discussing the government's benevolent attitude towards Arafat ever since the latter became ill, and said that the decision was made to come towards Arafat in everything having to do with his medical condition. "This improved our international position," he said, adding that the decision to allow him to leave Israel necessarily involved consent to his return as well. In response to a question by Justice Minister Yosef Lapid, Sharon then stated clearly that this applies only if Arafat does not die.
Several right-wing MKs had said last week that Arafat must not be buried in Jerusalem. MK Uri Ariel even said that "tens of thousands" of people would bodily prevent such a burial.
Prime Minister Sharon also said that if Arafat ceases to be in control of the Palestinian Authority, "this might very well be a good opportunity to coordinate and negotiate with whatever leadership arises after him. Only if they change their policies, however, and prove it with facts on the ground, will there be room for us to change our policy. The test will be in actions, not declarations."
Sharon had been discussing the government's benevolent attitude towards Arafat ever since the latter became ill, and said that the decision was made to come towards Arafat in everything having to do with his medical condition. "This improved our international position," he said, adding that the decision to allow him to leave Israel necessarily involved consent to his return as well. In response to a question by Justice Minister Yosef Lapid, Sharon then stated clearly that this applies only if Arafat does not die.
Several right-wing MKs had said last week that Arafat must not be buried in Jerusalem. MK Uri Ariel even said that "tens of thousands" of people would bodily prevent such a burial.
Prime Minister Sharon also said that if Arafat ceases to be in control of the Palestinian Authority, "this might very well be a good opportunity to coordinate and negotiate with whatever leadership arises after him. Only if they change their policies, however, and prove it with facts on the ground, will there be room for us to change our policy. The test will be in actions, not declarations."