Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat, under virtual house arrest in the West Bank town of Ramallah, reaffirmed his intentions of making his annual trip to Bethlehem for Christmas Eve mass, even if he has to go "on foot," Palestinian radio reported today.
"It is my duty, and I will see to it that I fulfill it," he said on Voice of Palestine. "I will go there even if I have to go on foot."
Yesterday, Israeli radio quoted an Israeli official as saying Mr Arafat would be banned from visiting the basilica which Christian tradition believes is Jesus Christ's birthplace in Bethlehem unless he first arrests the people who killed Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi in October.
"Yasser Arafat has not yet presented a request to go to Bethlehem, but if he did it would be turned down so long as he has not had the two killers of the minister arrested," said the official, who asked to remain anonymous.
The official also demanded the arrest of Ahmed Saadat, head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestinian, which claimed assassination.
Israeli officials have not made any official comment on the subject, while Foreign Minister Mr Shimon Peres has publicly declared he is against banning Mr Arafat from attending the religious celebrations.
Since the Israeli army withdrew from Bethlehem in 1995, Mr Arafat, a Muslim, has every year headed Christmas celebrations and attended midnight mass at the Saint Catherine church, next to the Basilica of the Nativity.
AFP