TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Israel troops will remain in Bethlehem during Christmas and will bar Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from entering the city, a senior Israeli government official told United Press International.
However, tourists and Israeli and Palestinian Christians will be allowed to enter the city regarded as Jesus's birthplace.
Although Arafat is Muslim, traditionally he has attended midnight masses at the Church of Nativity as head of the Palestinian Authority. However, last year the church left an empty seat for Arafat after Israel prevented him from attending midnight mass.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat Sunday told United Press International that the Israeli decision "can never be accepted," adding that "it reveals the intensions of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon to get rid of the Palestinian Authority and all the signed agreement."
"Bethlehem, the city of peace, is living under curfew, siege and an atmosphere of war. The whole city's hotels are destroyed, and tanks spread everywhere instead of creating an atmosphere of Christmas," Erekat said.
Israeli troops left Bethlehem last Christmas, but have returned several times. "We wanted to leave but whenever we left terrorists entered," a senior diplomatic source said. At least 12 suicide bombings originated in Bethlehem in the past year, he noted.
Pope John Paul raised the issue of Israeli presence when he received Israeli President Moshe Katsav in the Vatican last week. Katsav promised a redeployment of troops. A withdrawal from the city would depend on whether there are alerts of more attacks, an aide to the president quoted him as having told the pope.
"Israel will allow Christmas celebrations to be held and will enable Israeli Arabs, residents of Judea and Samaria (meaning the West Bank) and tourists to attend the festivities," military chief of general staff, Lt. Gen. Moshe Ya'lon, told church and Palestinian officials, according to a Cabinet statement issued Sunday.
However, "the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) has no intention of withdrawing from the city.
"The chief of staff emphasized that Israel will, for the time being, retain security responsibility for Bethlehem," the statement added.
The senior diplomatic official who spoke to United Press International on condition he not be identified said there was no formal request to let Arafat attend the mass. The Palestinian minister of local governance had asked Israel's Communications Minister Reuven Rivlin -- who is very close to Sharon -- whether Israel would let Arafat go to Bethlehem.
The official said Arafat will have to stay in his Muqata'a headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah, and indicated Israel may penetrate the Muqata'a if Arafat leaves it.
His departure "would make it possible for us to arrest all the terrorists hiding in the Muqata'a," who are sought by Israel, the official said.
Ya'alon noted that since Operation "Defensive Shield" began this spring, Israel has detained more than 4,700 Palestinians "involved in terrorism" and demolished 109 homes, mostly in the West Bank. The army continues to hold 3,094 Palestinians, a military source said Thursday, although no official figures were not immediately available on how many were held in civilian prisons.
Some 200 Palestinians "who attempted to infiltrate communities and cross the fence into Israel" have been killed since Operation Defensive Shield, the Cabinet statement added.
(With additional reporting from Saud Abu Ramadan in Gaza)
