Arafat Urges World to End Siege on Bethlehem

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 24, 2002

Arafat Urges World to End Siege on Bethlehem

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Monday urged the world to interfere to end Israel's tough military actions in the Palestinian territories and the siege imposed on theWest Bank town of Bethlehem.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Monday urged the world to interfere to end Israel's tough military actions in the Palestinian territories and the siege imposed on theWest Bank town of Bethlehem.

Arafat told reporters in the West Bank town of Ramallah what is happening in Bethlehem -- the confiscation of its lands, roadblocksand the Israeli troop deployment in and outside the holy town -- "can never be accepted."

Asked what does he think about the year's Christmas celebrationsin Bethlehem under these Israeli measures, Arafat replied with another question: "Does the world accept to see Bethlehem under theIsraeli occupation?"

Arafat blasted Israel for not respecting the Bethlehem-Gaza First agreement signed between former Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

Arafat condemned the Israeli measures taken against holy sites of both Christians and Moslems and called upon the world "to unite together to end the aggression.

Meanwhile, he announced that the Palestinian leadership is stillstudying the amended draft of the US roadmap peace plan that was presented to both Israelis and Palestinians.

"Until now, it has not been approved by the Israelis, and it needs more deep studies by all parties," said Arafat.

Israel had refused to allow Arafat to attend the Christmas Midnight mass in Bethlehem, where Jesus Christ was born more than 2,000 years ago, and kept him confined to the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Arafat attended the midnight mass in the town after most of the West Bank was handed to the PNA in 1995. He has not been allowed toattend the Christmas celebrations since the Palestinian intifada (uprising) broke out in September 2000.

Israel reoccupied most of the West Bank cities in July followinga series of suicide bombing attacks carried out in Israel by Palestinian militants. Bethlehem is among those cities under Israeli control.

Owing to Israeli security measures, the PNA has decided to limitthis year's celebrations of Christmas in Bethlehem to a midnight prayer.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Arafat Says Ready to Negotiate with Mitzna

Arafat Blasts US Claims on Palestinians Leadership

Zhu, Schroeder to be on Maiden Trip of China's First Maglev Train ( 2 Messages)

Chinese-made Electric Locomotive Hits Record Speed ( 2 Messages)

Analysis: The Rise of China -- a Threat or an Opportunity? ( 7 Messages)

US-Japan Missile Defense Cooperation Worries China ( 28 Messages)

Japan Wants Rearmament ( 6 Messages)