Easing of Military Gov’t. for Israel Arabs Follows Knesset Debate

A series of relaxations in the military rule of Israel in Arab-populated border areas were scheduled today to be put into effect soon following a debate on the issue in the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament.

Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion announced his agreement to the proposed measures after the debate. They included the right of appeal for Arabs convicted by military courts, the lifting of night curfews where they still existed, the granting of freedom-of-movement permits good for a year instead of shorter periods, and the ending of all restrictions on movements in Druse communities.

Insisting that some form of military rule was still needed in the border areas, the Prime Minister told the Knesset before a series of votes on the issue, that he considered abolition of military government “an abandonment of the state to the intrigues of the enemy in the neighboring countries and the intrigues of those who hate Israel in this country.” He said military rule was necessary both to the security of Israel and “to the peace of the Arabs in Israel who wish to live in tranquility and hope for peace between Israel and her Arab neighbors.” He said there were many Israeli Arabs who supported President Nasser of Egypt and who were still unreconciled to the existence of Israel.

Menahem Beigin of Herut and Yaacov Hazan of Mapam contended the Government did not need such means to cope with security problems at the borders. Pinhas Rosen of the Liberal party and Israel Bar-Yehuda of Achdut Avoda said that depriving Israeli Arabs of their civil liberties hurt Israel’s prestige.

The Knesset defeated five separate motions to abolish military rule 59 to 55 on all five motions, with coalition lines scrambled in the voting. The Prime Minister won the backing of one Arab deputy of his Mapai party and one Druse deputy by agreeing to the list of relaxations, which he announced after the voting.