Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said Friday that achieving peace in the region needs a full Israeli readiness for that.

   Abbas made the remarks as he arrived in the holy West Bank town of Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas.

   It was the first time for a top Palestinian leader to attend Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus Christ, since 2000.

   He stressed that the Palestinians are still committed to the peace process.

   "We send a message to the whole world that we are demanders forpeace, and if the other side (Israel) is ready for peace, we are ready for peace that is based on the international legitimacy,"said Abbas.

   "We hope that Year 2005 will be a year of real peace, prosperity and settlement for the Palestinian people, the Israeli people and for all Jews, Muslims and Christians all over the world," Abbastold reporters.

   As soon as Abbas arrived in Bethlehem, he met with LatinPatriarch Michel Sabah who reached the holy city Friday afternoon.

   "Jesus Christ had suffered a lot in his life for the sake of peace," Abbas told Sabah and other bishops, adding that "late President Yasser Arafat used to be here celebrating Christmas with you."

   He said that after Arafat's death, the Palestinians would carry his message of peace and try to achieve peace in the holy land.

Source: Xinhua