The funeral is to take place in northern Gaza, next to some of Arafat's relatives. Interior Minister Avraham Poraz (Shinui) said that all foreign leaders who want to participate in the funeral will be allowed to do so. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has already said that he plans to attend.
Asked why Israel would not allow the PLO chief to be buried in Jerusalem, Justice Minister Yosef Lapid said, "Jerusalem is burial place for Jewish leaders, not Arab terrorists."
Some Israelis don't agree. MK Ofir Pines of Labor has called on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to consider permitting Arafat's burial in Jerusalem, in exchange for a PA promise to cease all violence.
Some in the PA have apparently not given up hope that Arafat would be buried in Jerusalem. Sharon's spokesman Ranaan Gissin said that no one in the PA had raised the issue. "So far," he said, "the only place this issue has been negotiated is in the media."
Minister Mofaz also said this morning that the PA is currently experiencing a "twilight period," before Arafat's death and the take-over by a new leadership. He said that at present, "the old guard" - Abu Mazen and Abu Ala - appears to be taking control. "We will not intervene in the PA's internal affairs," Mofaz said, adding that Israel is prepared for an escalation in violence after in the wake of Arafat's expected death.
Mofaz said that while there has been a certain decrease in the scope of recent terrorist warnings, the terrorists continue efforts to perpetrate harsh attacks on Israeli soil. Several planned terrorist attacks in Judea, Samaria and Gaza were foiled and/or disrupted this week, he said, including the encounter with several Tanzim terrorists in Shechem, the arrest of several potential suicide bombers in Judea and Samaria, the foiling of an attempt to infiltrate Kfar Darom and the finding of additional tunnels for the smuggling of war material in Rafiach.
Asked why Israel would not allow the PLO chief to be buried in Jerusalem, Justice Minister Yosef Lapid said, "Jerusalem is burial place for Jewish leaders, not Arab terrorists."
Some Israelis don't agree. MK Ofir Pines of Labor has called on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to consider permitting Arafat's burial in Jerusalem, in exchange for a PA promise to cease all violence.
Some in the PA have apparently not given up hope that Arafat would be buried in Jerusalem. Sharon's spokesman Ranaan Gissin said that no one in the PA had raised the issue. "So far," he said, "the only place this issue has been negotiated is in the media."
Minister Mofaz also said this morning that the PA is currently experiencing a "twilight period," before Arafat's death and the take-over by a new leadership. He said that at present, "the old guard" - Abu Mazen and Abu Ala - appears to be taking control. "We will not intervene in the PA's internal affairs," Mofaz said, adding that Israel is prepared for an escalation in violence after in the wake of Arafat's expected death.
Mofaz said that while there has been a certain decrease in the scope of recent terrorist warnings, the terrorists continue efforts to perpetrate harsh attacks on Israeli soil. Several planned terrorist attacks in Judea, Samaria and Gaza were foiled and/or disrupted this week, he said, including the encounter with several Tanzim terrorists in Shechem, the arrest of several potential suicide bombers in Judea and Samaria, the foiling of an attempt to infiltrate Kfar Darom and the finding of additional tunnels for the smuggling of war material in Rafiach.