Israeli authorities said that three Palestinians living in annexed east Jerusalem had been arrested on charges of plotting attacks, including one to shoot down Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's helicopter.The three were planning a missile attack on Sharon's helicopter at the helipad outside his Jerusalem office, legal sources said.They were also charged with plotting bombing and shooting attacks against civilian targets in Jerusalem and of belonging to the radical Palestinian movement, Islamic Jihad.

The three men were named as Omar Atrash, Hadr Abu Hadr and Zyad Atrash, all from the east Jerusalem district of Tzur Bacher, and all equipped with Israeli identity cards, as is the case with east Jerusalem Palestinian residents.

They were arrested several weeks ago by the Israeli internal security service, Shin Beth, but their detention was kept under wraps until Sunday.

Separately, a military source said occupation soldiers had arrested two Palestinians wanted for belonging to Islamic Jihad, in possession of explosives at a occupation army check point north of Jerusalem.

Preliminary indications said the men who were arrested in a taxi were planning to carry out an attack, the source added.
Five other Palestinians riding in the taxi were detained for questioning.

Israelis to Bar Arafat From Bethlehem

Israel's Cabinet decided Sunday that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat  will not be allowed to travel to Bethlehem for Christmas celebrations, an Israeli government source said.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Cabinet made the decision at its weekly meeting after consulting with the occupation army forces, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Israel's security agencies continue to receive warnings about possible Palestinian attacks from the Bethlehem region, just south of Jerusalem, and removing the occupation troops would make Israel more vulnerable, the source said.

A spokesman for Arafat criticized Israel's decision.

"The Israeli decision ... is a violation of their promises to the American administration, the Vatican and the Pope," said spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeneh. "All the excuses that they give are lies and are rejected."

Arafat, a Muslim, has attended Bethlehem celebrations several times since 1995, when he returned from exile and became head of the Palestinian Authority .

Last Christmas, Israel also prevented the Palestinian leader from traveling the 12 miles from his compound to Bethlehem, a town of 30,000 that is roughly half-Christian and half-Muslim.

Israel has had occupation troops in Bethlehem and other West Bank cities for most of the past six months to guard against Palestinian attacks.

Arafat has rarely ventured from his compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah since last December, when Israel began placing tight restrictions on his movements. Israel said Arafat had failed to take actions to prevent resistance bombings and other attacks.

In the past, foreign visitors have packed Bethlehem's Manger Square, just outside the Church of the Nativity - the spot where tradition holds that Jesus was born.

The Mideast conflict has kept many foreign tourists away fr the past two years, and Palestinian Christians say Israeli travel restrictions make it difficult for them to reach Bethlehem. Turnout is expected to be low this year.

In other developments Sunday, the Israeli occupation army said that occupation soldiers spotted two people along the border between the Gaza Strip  and Egypt, and fired on them during a chase.

The two suspects were wounded and arrested, and weapons were found on them, the occupation army said in a statement. The occupation army did not give the identities, nationalities or any other details about the two.

PHOTO CAPTION

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat  smiles at members of the media following a meeting in his headquarters in the the West Bank town of Ramallah, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)