Yasser Arafat tours Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity

Surrounded by black-robed priests, armed guards and journalists, Yasser Arafat today ducked into the candlelit grotto marking the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

The Palestinian leader toured Bethlehem’s ancient Church of the Nativity, which was the scene of a 39-day standoff between Palestinian gunmen and civilians hiding from Israeli soldiers.