Bethlehem ban on Arafat would escalate tensions

PALESTINIANS warned yesterday of a "dangerous escalation" of tensions if Israel stops Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from celebrating Christmas in Bethlehem.

The warnings came after an adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Raanan Gissin, said Arafat should not try to attend the midnight Mass.

But Raanan stopped short of saying Israel would bar him from the city.

Arafat, a Muslim, began attending the Midnight Mass in Bethlehem, site of Jesus' birth, in 1995, after the city was turned over to Palestinian control.

Last year, 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.

However, Gissin said 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 Arafat from attending, Gissin said: "I didn't say we would stop him.

"I just said that he should stay in his place."

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

Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said 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," Erekat said.

In continuing violence, a Palestinian women was killed and three of her children aged four, seven and 14 and another woman were badly wounded by Israeli gunfire in the Gaza Strip last night. With Israel demanding an end to violence before any peace talks can resume, Arafat's Fatah movement has been seeking to win 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.