| A sad Christmas tale about a Palestinian state “Old Man” Arafat, as his fellow fighters respectfully call him, was left with nothing. This Christmas, the fairytale of a Palestinian state became a story with a sad ending for the Palestinian leader.
Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, was to become the symbol of Palestinian independence. The handover of this world-famous city to the Palestinian Authority in 1995 was the clearest proof yet that the peace agreements reached two years earlier were being implemented. Arafat has become the host of the world's most beloved holiday. Pilgrims and tourists flocked to the sparkling lights of Bethlehem, where Muslims and Christians coexist peacefully. Around Christmas, the tale of a Palestinian state worked especially well. Religious figures and famous politicians came to the holiday, even Boris Yeltsin came. All of them were met by Yasser Arafat - himself the head of state, the Arabs have long called him president. Next to Arafat at the Bethlehem celebrations was always his young wife Suha. He is a Muslim, she is a Christian. A wonderful symbol of mutual understanding. But this year, Arafat's wife has rarely appeared at his side.
In 1996, Arafat and Russian President Yeltsin declared Bethlehem and Moscow sister cities. Arafat hoped that this and other agreements would help him in difficult times. But he was wrong. Nobody helped the “President”. For the first time in seven years, this Christmas (at least the Catholic service) took place in Bethlehem without Arafat. The Israelis did not allow the Palestinian leader into the city of Christ. The road to Bethlehem is controlled by their posts. The Israeli authorities suggested that Arafat should not celebrate, but rather arrest the killers of the Israeli tourism minister, who was shot dead by Palestinians in October.
Arafat was furious and threatened to go to Bethlehem on foot. Not getting there on Christmas Day is an ominous sign for him, almost a prediction. Christian chants in the homeland of Jesus became for the Muslim Arafat not just a familiar ritual, but a sign of good luck, a gesture of God’s favor. But the Israelis showed who was boss. On the way to Bethlehem, they even detained a couple of Santa Clauses. What if this is Arafat in disguise?
On the chair in the Basilica of the Nativity where Yasser Arafat was supposed to sit during the service, well-wishers placed a checkered Palestinian keffiyeh scarf—the kind the head of the autonomy wears. The result is ambiguity: it seems like Arafat exists, but it seems like he doesn’t. A checkered, modest handkerchief is what remains this Christmas from “President” Arafat and his dream of a Palestinian state.
Israelis shelled Jordan
Yesterday, Israeli soldiers invaded Jordanian territory. They did this in the heat of pursuit of armed unknowns who had fled in the direction of a neighboring country. Authorities in Jordan, where many Palestinian refugees live, did not interfere with the raid. The previous morning, Israeli troops were fired upon twice near the Jordanian border. One Israeli was killed and there were wounded. True, there is a version that it was not Palestinians who opened fire, but Jordanian border guards. This would be the worst outcome of the investigation launched. After all, in 1994, Jordan and Israel made peace. There were precedents: in 1997, seven Israeli schoolgirls died from the bullets of a Jordanian soldier. Only the genuine regret of the late King Hussein of Jordan helped the countries maintain normal relations at that time. Elena SUPONINA |
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