West Bank settlers who have been demanding tougher security measures in the territory were assured by Premier Shimon Peres yesterday that despite differences over the future of the West Bank, there will be no compromise over its security.
Peres met for the first time since taking office with the mayors of 15 Jewish settlements and other local leaders and activists. He made no specific promises in response to their demands for harsh treatment of Arabs who agitate or perpetrate violence. They left the hourlong meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office apparently satisfied but said they would “wait and see” if Peres’ assurances are translated into greater security.
The Premier suggested that the settlers distinguish between what they call Eretz Israel (Land of Israel) and the security of Israel. They seemed to agree when he asked rhetorically, “The settlements were not established as a counter-terrorist measure, were they?” , adding, “So I suggest that you don’t make terrorism a political issue because by doing so you serve the interests of the terrorists.”
UNITY IN FIGHTING AGAINST TERRORISM
Peres declared that despite the debate over the future of the territories there is unity in the fight against terrorism. He noted that previous governments had to contend with terrorism and that Israel is not the only country to experience the phenomenon. “In England there is no national debate about England and yet the Prime Minister was almost killed in a terrorist attack,” Peres said.
With respect to the political aspects of the debate, he reminded the settlers that in order to protect Jews one must also protect the Jewish nature of Israel.
The settlers have made a number of demands in the past week. They want Arab agitators deported, the houses of Arab terrorists demolished and the establishment of a civil guard in the territory, similar to the volunteer civil guard that operates in Israel proper. So far, none of these demands has been met. Security sources indicated that the deportation of Arabs from the territories was a complicated legal matter.
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.
