The Israeli government is concerned the Palestinian Authority will exploit Yasser Arafat's invitation to the annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. next Thursday, using it to strengthen the perception of a shift in US Mideast policy.

PM Binyamin Netanyahu's director of policy planning and communications, David Bar-Illan expressed this view to a gathering of Christians in Jerusalem last night.

The invitation has been criticised by some Christian and Jewish groups, who question the wisdom of hosting the PA chairman shortly after he reportedly released from custody several suspects linked to the murder of Americans. They also cite reports of Palestinian maltreatment of Christians.

Bar-Illan said while he was "a staunch believer in extending one's hand in charity", he felt those behind the invitation were not aware of "how it can be exploited politically".

"The Palestinians are already advertising it as an invitation from Congress, for Arafat to come and meet [President Bill] Clinton on that occasion and have a mini-summit with him.

"The Palestinians would like to have it appear as if the friendship between the US and Israel is being replaced by friendship between the US and the PA," he said.

Pointing to PA treatment of Christians, and the release last week of five Palestinian suspects linked to the killings of US citizens, Bar-Illan added: "Both for Christians and Americans, one does not see the sense of inviting Arafat to this kind of prayer breakfast."

He noted that others invited included a senior official in the Sudanese regime, which was widely acknowledged as responsible for the "genocidal murder of Christians in Sudan".

Meanwhile Brad Keena, a spokesman for this year's breakfast chairman, Rep. Steve Largent (R-OK) said the congressman had not invited Arafat personally, the CONSERVATIVE NEWS SERVICE reports.

"Rep. Largent is this year's chairman and each year the committee sends out thousands of invitations every year to officials around the world and for the last three years Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Yasser Arafat, and he [Arafat] has turned them down," Keena told CNS. "Arafat will not be recognised at the Prayer Breakfast as though he is a head of state, which he isn't."

Keena said he personally finds the criticism of the event from conservative Christian groups "disappointing."

He added: "It would be unfortunate if the president would use the venue of the National Prayer Breakfast - which is independent and not affiliated with the government, it is a private group that has been doing this for over 40 years - to further the White House political agenda with the PA."

Exactly who is responsible for inviting the PA chairman is unclear. National Prayer Breakfast spokesman Paul Cardus told CNS invitations were sent out by the non-congressional organizing committee with much input given by a variety of people.

"The process is one that is very inclusive and very serious after deliberation and prayer."

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (publishers of this news service), has joined the chorus of concern.

The ICEJ said in a statement today it was "particularly concerned that Arafat will exploit this occasion to further sanitise himself in the eyes of Christians and others in his campaign to wrest control from Israel of the Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

"No one should be deceived into thinking Arafat and the Muslim-dominated PA will be a principled and trustworthy guardian of Jewish or Christian shrines and places of worship in the Holy Land. Their record so far in Bethlehem, Hebron and Nablus is deplorable."

In a strongly-worded open letter to Largent, Zionist Organization of America national secretary Jerome Kaufman queried the kind of message the invitation sent to "other terrorist regimes around the world".

Arafat last week released dozens of jailed Palestinian terror suspects, including at least five involved in the murder of nine Americans between February 1996 and September 1997.

[The following email was sent to ZINC as part of the protest campaign on this issue]

----- Original Message -----
From: Shabach [email protected]
To: Shabach [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 1999 10:27
Subject: ARAFAT TO SPEAK AT CONGRESSIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST

Greetings All,

Below is an article received concerning Arafat's attending a congressional prayer breakfast and even addressing it. This arch enemy should be arrested and tried for the murder of numerous American citizens, according to american law, never mind being a guest of honour.

ACTION ALERT:

ARAFAT TO SPEAK AT CONGRESSIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST FEBRUARY 4th

Yassar Arafat has accepted an invitation to attend the Congressional Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning, February 4th in Washington, DC.

He will meet with President Clinton privately at the breakfast.

No representative from Israel has been invited to attend.

Attached is our letter of protest to Congressman Steve Largent, Chairman of the Congressional Prayer Breakfast Committee.

[ZINC did not get the attached letter mentioned above.]

IT IS EXTREMELY URGENT THAT YOU CONTACT CONGRESSMAN LARGENT AND PROTEST ARAFAT'S PRESENCE AT THE PRAYER BREAKFAST:

PHONE: (202) 225-2211

FAX: (202) 225-9187

EMAIL: [email protected]

Ariel