CHRISTMAS TREE FOR BETHLEHEM IN QUARANTINE.

Byline: Samar Assad Associated Press 

Santa Claus made it to Bethlehem in time for Christmas, but a Christmas tree donated by Finland will spend the holiday sitting in an Israeli warehouse.

Ibrahim Kandaleft, Yasser Arafat's adviser on Christian affairs, accused Israel of playing the Grinch by refusing to release the tree.

``They're trying in every way possible to ruin Christmas in Bethlehem because Bethlehem is under Palestinian control,'' he said Sunday.

A spokesman for Israel's Agriculture Ministry said any tree brought into the country had to be quarantined for a month.

Meanwhile, Santa Claus made the best of it Sunday, singing Christmas carols and throwing candy to mobs of children in Bethlehem's Manger Square, the biblical birthplace of Jesus.

``I wish and hope for more peace, understanding and love and more humanity for everyone,'' said Kari Rantila, a headmaster in Finland when he isn't playing St. Nick.

With their tree stuck in limbo, the Finnish embassy instead decorated a skinny cedar growing in Manger Square. On Sunday, the tree was officially lighted by Finnish and Palestinian officials.

Bobby Brown, adviser on Christian affairs to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Netanyahu had only learned about the tree controversy on Friday and would try his best to get it out before Christmas.

``We don't want to be the Grinch that stole Christmas,'' Brown said.

Jamal Sallman, secretary of the Bethlehem city government, said that in past years, Israel also has stopped Christmas trees donated by the Netherlands and Norway from reaching Bethlehem.

``We do not allow categorically to import into Israel any kind of pine tree unless it goes into quarantine of one month,'' said Naftali Yaniv, spokesman for the Agriculture Ministry.