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'Israel ready for funeral'
07/11/2004 17:30 - (SA)
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| Mahmoud Abbas, secretary-general of the PLO executive committee speaks to other PLO officials under a portrait and beside the empty chair of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during an emergency meeting at Arafat's headquarters. (Ammar Awad, AP)
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Jerusalem - Israel has completed preparations for the ailing Yasser Arafat to be buried in the Gaza Strip.
Security officials said on Sunday that Israel has oultined plans to allow West Bank Palestinians to cross through Israel for the funeral and permitting enemy Arab leaders to attend.
The decision, announced by defence minister Shaul Mofaz in a cabinet meeting, was the latest development in the battle over Arafat's burial.
With the Palestinian leader's condition increasingly dire, where to bury him has become a sensitive issue.
Palestinian officials have said Arafat wants to be buried in Jerusalem.
Israel rejects that demand, citing security concerns and fearing it would strengthen Palestinian claims to the traditionally Arab sector of the city as a future capital.
Israeli officials have suggested Gaza as an alternative, but say they will consider Palestinian wishes for burial elsewhere. They said they have not been contacted by the Palestinians.
Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said it is inappropriate to discuss the burial issue while Arafat is alive.
"I think it's not for the Israelis to decide and I would urge the Israelis to show some sensitivity," Erekat said.
Burial sites
During Sunday's cabinet meeting, Mofaz was quoted by fellow ministers as saying, "Israel has completed its preparations for Arafat to be buried in Gaza and is waiting for an official request by the Palestinians."
Arafat's clan, the Al-Kidwas, is originally from Gaza, though the Palestinian leader grew up in Jerusalem and Cairo.
The family has a small plot of 25 to 30 graves in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis.
The overgrown patch is in the middle of a busy vegetable market and would not be considered appropriate.
Other burial options include a seaside plot next to his old headquarters in Gaza City, or Gaza City's "martyrs' cemetery" east of the city, close to Israel.
Israel's plans are based on the assumption that Arafat will be put to rest in Khan Younis, security officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Arab leaders
They said the plan would allow an undetermined number of West Bank Palestinians to cross through Israel in buses to the funeral.
During the past four years of violence, it has been almost impossible for West Bank Palestinians to travel to the Gaza Strip.
They also said that leaders of Arab countries that don't have diplomatic relations with Israel, such as Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, will be allowed to fly to Gaza from Jordan.
The army will also ease travel restrictions within Gaza to allow Palestinians inside the coastal area to freely reach the funeral, the officials said.
The officials said security in Gaza would be left to Palestinian authorities.
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