Labor MK Ofir Pines has called on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to consider permitting Yasser Arafat’s burial in Jerusalem in exchange for a PA assurance of a ceasefire.
Justice Minister Yosef (Tomy) Lapid (Shinui) said Friday “Jerusalem is the city where Jewish kings are buried and not Arab terrorists.”
Pines suggested the “peace for burial” deal Saturday, after Sharon announced he will not permit Arafat to be buried anywhere in Jerusalem. The Israeli government wants Yasser Arafat, whenever he dies, to be buried in Gaza, but Palestinian Authorities have refused to talk about burial plans, according to news sources.
Arafat's father is buried in Khan Yunis, a city in southern Gaza and adjacent to the Gush Katif area where more than 7,500 Jews live. Palestinian officials have refused to mention the subject with Israel so long as Arafat is alive.
Whenever he dies, the determining factor probably will be where the body arrives. If the Arabs were to succeed in having Arafat's body returned to Ramallah, Israel would have a difficult time preventing mobs from marching towards Jerusalem. Israel defense officials have foreseen hundreds of thousands of Arabs carrying Arafat's coffin to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
After the death a few years ago of Feisal Husseini, Arafat's representative in Jerusalem, a huge mob turned his funeral on the Temple Mount into a PLO flag-waving nationalistic event. Israel's Channel Two television reported Friday that a poll reveals 93% of Israelis are against burying Arafat in Jerusalem.
Another headache for Israel will be the desire of several heads of state to attend the funeral. Former President Jimmy Carter, who befriended Arafat and engineered negotiations with Israel, stated Thursday night he would attend the burial.
Justice Minister Yosef (Tomy) Lapid (Shinui) said Friday “Jerusalem is the city where Jewish kings are buried and not Arab terrorists.”
Pines suggested the “peace for burial” deal Saturday, after Sharon announced he will not permit Arafat to be buried anywhere in Jerusalem. The Israeli government wants Yasser Arafat, whenever he dies, to be buried in Gaza, but Palestinian Authorities have refused to talk about burial plans, according to news sources.
Arafat's father is buried in Khan Yunis, a city in southern Gaza and adjacent to the Gush Katif area where more than 7,500 Jews live. Palestinian officials have refused to mention the subject with Israel so long as Arafat is alive.
Whenever he dies, the determining factor probably will be where the body arrives. If the Arabs were to succeed in having Arafat's body returned to Ramallah, Israel would have a difficult time preventing mobs from marching towards Jerusalem. Israel defense officials have foreseen hundreds of thousands of Arabs carrying Arafat's coffin to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
After the death a few years ago of Feisal Husseini, Arafat's representative in Jerusalem, a huge mob turned his funeral on the Temple Mount into a PLO flag-waving nationalistic event. Israel's Channel Two television reported Friday that a poll reveals 93% of Israelis are against burying Arafat in Jerusalem.
Another headache for Israel will be the desire of several heads of state to attend the funeral. Former President Jimmy Carter, who befriended Arafat and engineered negotiations with Israel, stated Thursday night he would attend the burial.