The US, European state call on Israel to permit Arafat visiting Bethlehem

The Israeli government last week received messages from the US and several European states which called on Israel to permit the chairman of the Palestinian authority Yasser Arafat to head for Bethlehem in order to attend the mid night mass held on the Christmas.

The Israeli radio said the mini Israeli Cabinet which was held on December 23 approved with a majority preventing Arafat from attending the mass of Bethlehem noting that seven of the ministers refused to give consent to Arafat to attend and the other 6 agreed the visit.

For his part, the Israeli minister Saleh Tarif who is in charge of running the affairs of the Palestinians in the territories of 1948 sent a message to the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon in which he expressed his rejection to the decision taken by the mini Israeli cabinet concerning Arafat. He said that this decision is wrong and may damage Israel on the International arena.