Arafat to Be Confined to Ramallah Unless He Arrests Assassins: Israel

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 25, 2001

Arafat to Be Confined to Ramallah Unless He Arrests Assassins: Israel

Israeli officials in the Prime Minister's Office have said that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will not be allowed to leave the West Bank city of Ramallah until he arrests the killers of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi, Israel Radio reported on Tuesday.

Israeli Environment Minister from the hawkish Likud Party Tzahi Hanegbi told the radio that Arafat would be confined to Ramallah " until he arrests the murderers of Ze'evi," who was gunned down in October.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Monday conditioned Arafat's visit to Bethlehem for Christmas celebrations on his apprehension of the assassins of the minister.

Sharon's decision has been criticized by both Israeli right-wing and left-wing politicians.

Despite international and domestic pressure, the Israeli government insisted on banning Arafat from travelling to Bethlehem for Christmas Mass on Monday.

In response, Arafat said in a televised address to his people Monday evening that Israel was guilty of a crime of banning his annual Christmas visit to Bethlehem.

"The crime of depriving me of my right of participating in the celebrations of the birth of Jesus...will in any case not affect my determination and the determination of our people to pursue the path of a permanent and just peace," Arafat said.

The United States has proposed to the Israeli Embassy in Washington that Israel should allow Arafat to attend Christmas Mass in Bethlehem, Israel Radio reported.

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