AMMAN, Dec 23: Jordan is prepared to send a helicopter to fly Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to attend a Christmas mass in Bethlehem on Monday after the Israelis banned him from going, a senior Jordanian official said on Sunday.

“Jordan is ready to send a helicopter for President Arafat so he can go to Bethlehem,” the official said.

“It will not be the first time Jordan has put an aircraft or a helicopter at Arafat’s disposal for his movements,” the official said.

“The security cabinet made its decision based on the fact that Arafat is not working to dismantle terror organizations and to foil terror attacks against Israel and to arrest and punish terrorists, including the murderers of tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi,” a government statement said.

“No one can prevent me from reaching Bethlehem,” Arafat said on Sunday, while a Palestinian official said he was prepared to try to force the issue at an Israeli military roadblock.—AFP