-Caveat Lector- http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/et?ac=000114832908976&rtmo= Q0zwkmaR&atmo=mmmmmmmR&pg=/et/99/12/4/wisr04.html Arafat steals show as Israel misses out on Millennium By Alan Philps in Jerusalem London Telegraph 4 December 1999 THE Holy Land begins its Millennium celebrations today when the Christmas tree in Bethlehem's Manger Square is illuminated. But the hand on the switch for one of the greatest Christian festivals will be that of a Muslim, Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader. Mr Arafat will land in his helicopter in Jesus's birthplace to inaugurate the Bethlehem 2000 celebrations, 13 months of festivities that will see the former guerrilla fighter cast in the role of guardian of some of the holiest places in Christendom. The heads of 13 Christian churches in Jerusalem are putting aside their differences to come to Bethlehem for a joint celebration under Mr Arafat's patronage. On Jan 7, the date when Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas, Mr Arafat has invited the heads of state of the Orthodox countries, including President Yeltsin of Russia, to visit. In March, the Pope is expected on a pilgrimage. Builders are rushing to finish the first five-star hotel in Bethlehem - which had no room at the inn 2,000 years ago - so that the Pope can stay there. The role of starting the celebrations is accorded to Mr Arafat as president of the Palestinian Authority. Mr Arafat has commissioned a �130 million facelift, which will eventually make the rather scrappy Palestinian town into a place fit for millions of tourists and pilgrims. While Mr Arafat seems to be enjoying the role, some Israelis are wondering if they have not been outsmarted by him. Israel has long seen itself as the Holy Land and is in charge of the Christian sites in Jerusalem. However, the government has failed to capitalise on the Millennium, which has no meaning for Jews, leaving the field open for the Palestinians. Meron Benvenisti, the former deputy mayor of Jerusalem, believes that the Israeli government has been paralysed by its fear of highlighting Christian claims to the Holy Land. "Yasser Arafat and his colleagues are artfully exploiting the Israeli failure and snatching the Holy Land away from the Jews," he wrote in the newspaper Haaretz. Mr Arafat, he said, was on the way to casting himself as the embodiment of Islamic religious tolerance, while the Israelis were stuck "in a cultural and religious ghetto". Israel's Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, Yisrael Lau, said last week that Christians were welcome in the Holy Land, but that the sight of crosses and Christmas trees was offensive to observant Jews. Israel's Millennium contribution has been mostly in crowd control and tourist development. Hidden cameras have been installed in Jerusalem's Old City, while new lavatories, first aid posts and a police station have been built near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the presumed site of the crucifixion and burial. By a twist of fate, the last day of the Christian Millennium is a Friday. Sundown on this day marks the beginning of the Jewish sabbath, when public entertainment is banned in west Jerusalem, where the main hotels are. Despite the protests of hoteliers, no exceptions are to be made for Millennium revellers, which will make Jerusalem probably the dullest place on earth on Dec 31. Those who want to have a ball will have to go to Bethlehem, where Mr Arafat is laying on a peace party, with 2,000 doves being released into the night. � Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 1999. Forwarded with no endorsement implied-- for education, research and discussion. *** NOTICE: Per Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest, for Fair Use research and educational purposes, only. *** Ref: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml **** . DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
