More than 50 Arab men and women crossed the Damiya Bridge over the Jordan River early today as Israeli authorities permitted resumption of the return of former West Bank residents to their homes. They were the first of about a hundred families which presented themselves to qualify for the 7,000 family permits which Israel announced would be issued beginning today. Early this afternoon, another 50 families were waiting to be processed. Ministry of the Interior officials said they would make every effort to expedite the issuance of the permits and complete the baggage customs examinations in time for all the applicants to cross before nightfall.
Some 7,000 family permits, issued last year, were not utilized by the holders and the Israeli Government announced last October that permits not used before Jan. 31 would be cancelled. Only 99 families made use of the time extension to return to the West Bank. Israel subsequently announced that the old permits were cancelled and that the authorities would accept 7,000 new applications. The family return crossings will be permitted each Tuesday.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
