Anger at threat to ban Arafat from Bethlehem

A threat by Israel to prevent Yasser Arafat from attending Christmas Mass in Bethlehem could bring a "dangerous escalation" of tensions, Palestinians warned yesterday.

Raanan Gissin, an adviser to the Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, said the Palestinian leader should not try to attend Midnight Mass. But Mr Gissin stopped short of saying Israel would bar him from the city.

Mr Arafat, a Muslim, began attending the Christmas Mass in Bethlehem in 1995 after the city was turned over to Palestinian control. Last year, Mr Sharon's security cabinet decided to ban him from going to Bethlehem from his office in Ramallah. The security cabinet has not made a decision yet this year. But Mr Gissin said Mr Arafat "should stay in his place, in [Ramallah], because he has caused much tragedy to the Christian population and he didn't do anything to advance the cause of peace".

Asked if Israel would stop Mr Arafat from attending, Mr Gissin said: "I didn't say we would stop him. I just said that he should stay in his place."

The Israelis say Mr Arafat is not restricted to the office or to the West Bank, but they have also said that if he leaves, he might not be allowed to return.

Saeb Erekat, a Palestinian cabinet minister, said Mr Arafat had an obligation to be with his people on Christmas. "I think this will be a very dangerous escalation, not only on the security level but also as far as the political situation is concerned," Mr Erekat said.

With Israel demanding an end to violence before peace talks can resume, Mr Arafat's Fatah movement has been seeking a commitment from the rival, militant Hamas group to end suicide bombings against Israeli civilians. Fatah and Hamas held talks in Cairo last month but failed to resolve their differences. Talks are to resume in the next few days.

Nabil Shaath, a Palestinian cabinet minister, said: "The question is if Hamas is ready to co-operate with the Fatah movement to stop targeting Israeli civilians."

In continuing violence, a 28-year-old Palestinian with mental disability was shot dead by Israeli troops near a military checkpoint in the West Bank yesterday. The army said soldiers had opened fire when the man refused to halt and started running.

Meanwhile, Israel's Supreme Court is to hear an appeal against plans by the government to demolish 15 Palestinian homes in the West Bank city of Hebron to make way for a wider road connecting a Jewish settlement. The government decided on the demolition after an ambush in Hebron that killed 12 Israelis.