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Ben-gurion Recommends Relaxation of Military Rule in Arab Areas

February 5, 1962
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Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion submitted to a meeting of the Cabinet here today a series of recommendations for the relaxation of Israel’s military rule in border areas occupied by Israeli Arabs. He will present the recommendations to a meeting of the Knesset (Parliament), to forestall the passage of several bills pending n the House, calling for total abolition of the military government.

The Premier’s recommendations include greater freedom of movement for Arabs inside the controlled areas along Israel’s frontiers with the Arab states. They also provide for the creation of civilian committees, comprised of local residents, to whom persons considering themselves aggrieved by the military may appeal. Ahdut Avodah served notice in the Cabinet today that it will support the opposition on this issue when it arises in the Knesset, on February 14.

Minister of Labor Yigal Allon reported to the Cabinet that he had notified the Engineers’ Union–the trade union group conducting the current strike of 6,000 salaried engineers–that the Government would invoke emergency regulations by Monday midnight, unless engineers return to work in””essential” services by that time.

Mr. Allon had requested that the union release 43 workers needed for essential services in electric power plants and in immigrant housing. The union, now in its fourth week of the walk-out of salaried engineers, chemists, architects and agronomists, has refused so far to release these men for return to their work. Under the emergency regulations now threatened by Mr. Allon, he will have the power to assign men for essential services.

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