Both murdered Americans.
Posted on 12/16/2003 1:24:05 PM PST by Dr. Zzyzx
Israel Bars Arafat From Christmas Celebrations in Bethlehem for Third Straight Year By Josef Federman Associated Press Writer Published: Dec 16, 2003
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel on Tuesday barred Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem for a third straight year, as Egyptian mediators again pressed Palestinian militants to halt attacks.
With efforts to revive peace talks at a standstill, Israeli leaders sent a mixed message to the Palestinians: Israel is ready to negotiate but will take unilateral action if peace talks fail.
Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has advocated a unilateral pullout from occupied lands in recent weeks, warned the public to be ready for painful concessions. He said "tens of thousands" of settlers in the West Bank and Gaza would be uprooted.
Meanwhile, violence continued in the West Bank. Israeli soldiers fired at a crowd of stone throwers in the Balata refugee camp, critically wounding a 15-year-old boy in the head, Palestinian hospital workers said. The army said it fired rubber bullets to disperse a crowd, but had no information about the boy.
Arafat told a Christian delegation at his sandbagged headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah that he hoped to participate in the Christmas festivities this year in Bethlehem, the traditional site of Jesus' birthplace.
"I haven't missed it, except since being besieged in this building," Arafat said.
Arafat, a Muslim, regularly attended the Bethlehem celebrations - a politically motivated move aimed at asserting Palestinian control of the town - before Israel confined him to Ramallah two years ago. Israel accuses the Palestinian leader of failing to prevent suicide attacks.
The Palestinian Authority had requested that Arafat be allowed to make the 12-mile trip from Ramallah to Bethlehem, an Israeli official said.
But Israel's policy is that "Arafat stays where he is," the Israeli official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, called Israel's decision "unfortunate."
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia has made the travel issue a priority. Enabling Arafat to move around again would strengthen Qureia's public standing as he tries to restart peace talks.
Since taking office in October, Qureia has been considering a summit with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. But the two sides have been unable to agree on the terms of such a meeting.
Qureia has also been trying to persuade Palestinian militants to halt attacks, a crucial first step toward resuming talks on the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan. The road map envisions a Palestinian state by 2005.
In Gaza, the Egyptian delegation arrived for talks with Arafat's Fatah faction, and the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Fatah representative Samir Masharawhi said the Egyptians had relayed a message from Washington that the United States is ready to support a Palestinian initiative.
Egyptian mediator Gen. Omar Suleiman had traveled to Washington after a round of cease-fire talks in Cairo this month failed.
Israel has instead demanded that the Palestinian Authority dismantle militant groups as stipulated in the road map. But it has suggested it would scale back military operations if the Palestinians stop their attacks.
Israeli officials, under domestic and international pressure, urged Qureia to return to the negotiating table.
"He will find us willing to talk to him and to reach brave decisions and an agreement, talks between equals," said Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, speaking at a national security conference in the Tel Aviv suburb of Herzliya.
Sharon has said in recent weeks that he will take unilateral action if peace talks fail. He is expected to release details of his vision Thursday.
Those moves would include the completion of a West Bank separation barrier that dips deep into Palestinian land and the dismantling of some Jewish settlements, said Israeli reports, citing legislators who have spoken to Sharon.
The United States and the Palestinians have insisted on an agreement through negotiations.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, in Washington for talks with U.S. officials, said Tuesday that Israel will coordinate any unilateral moves with the United States.
The road map requires Israel to freeze settlement activity in the West Bank and Gaza, and dismantle dozens of tiny unauthorized outposts in the West Bank.
Israel is expected to dismantle the Migron outpost, home to more than 40 families, near Ramallah in the coming days. Opponents flocked to Migron on Tuesday to support the settlers.
AP-ES-12-16-03 1510EST
Copyright 2003 Associated Press
BTW, Christmas is not about the birth of Jesus.
Both murdered Americans.
You're correct, it's about serious spending of more money than one has.
What is it about?
How about the IDF killing Arafat ON Christmas day?
That would truly mark the end of a glorious year in the fight against Islamic excrements extremist.
"No, No, Mister Chairman... you appear to be lost again, this year. It's Bethlehem, not DEATHlehem..." :)
It has absolutely nothing to do with the Birth of Jesus, although it does relate to the birth of Christ into the body of Jesus.
The 25th of December is, and was, a holiday in history. It had many names, Saturnalia being one of them. It was the longest night of the year, and after that night, the nights get shorter. Civilization celebrated it in that respect, thanking their Gods for the return of life (to plants,basically food sources) that would come soon due to the end of the LONG NIGHTS.
Christianity adopted this date to celebrate CHRISTMAS. This was done (accepting that date) in order to adopt pagans (who celebrated the Saturnalia) into Christianity.
THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS.
The name of the holiday gives away the answer, but it is ignored..... CHRIST'S MASS.
Christ was sacrificed on the cross, to pay for our mortal sins. God had put his all (the embodiement of his perfect spirit) into a human soul.
He 'risked' it all. Christ accepted this 'risk' and was crucified as a result.
GOD gave up his 'son' for us. Christ gave up his human 'life' for us.
To GIVE those things was to give up a very valued thing.
For Christmas, we are supposed to GIVE to one we love, our most valued possessions.
It is this act of giving up of physical possessions, those which we value most, which is the TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS. When you do this act, the feeling that you get inside yourself is like no other. The love returned, and felt by you, from the one you give this to, is also another part of the TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS.
Christmas has been commercialized and mostly it's original intent has been lost to many. The people of Jewish faith have been very polite in not shoving the truth about Christmas down our throats, because they, in many cases are involved in the commercalization of Christmas.
They do not celebrate it, because for one, they know there is nothing that says Jesus was born on Dec. 25th. I don't fault them for profiting from it, as it is our (christian's) holiday, and if we misconstrue it, that is our fault.
Remember this, this Christmas. Instead of buying junk for people because you don't want them to dislike you because you didn't, get the REWARD you need, the feeling that comes from releasing worldly possessions, from letting go of something you value, and GIVING it to one you love. It will GIVE YOU A GIFT that only GOD CAN GIVE.
Whatever. Please don't respond again. Thank you.
I think the constant battle over politics, and what is obviously a battle between right and wrong, I was still in a battle mode.
I started off completely wrong.
Christmas is about MORE than the birthday of Jesus.
It is about the birth of Christ into Jesus. It is about the anointing of Jesus by God to create that 'birth'.
Because he gave.... It is about the spirit of giving.
The rest of spiel on how to practice giving, is a suggestion of how to get the value out of the giving.
I like to spark controversy because it promotes debate, but I picked the wrong spark. (holdmuhbeer)
: )
Merry Christmas and God Bless.
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