Security forces arrested 49 Israelis, most of them Jews, who demonstrated in Ramallah yesterday against the continued closure of Bir Zeit University. Most were released after spending the night in jail but six remained in custody at Jerusalem police headquarters today for further questioning.
The army used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, some 200 of whom gathered in the main square of the West Bank city to protest the Military Government’s shut-down of the Arab university on Nov. 4 and the recent demolition of Arab homes in Bethlehem and Beit Sahour. The demonstration was organized by the Committee for Solidarity With Bir Zeit. The Israelis arrested were mostly university professors, lecturers and students accused of throwing stones at security forces.
A military spokesman said the demonstrators were warned to disperse before tear gas was used. Participants in the demonstration denied that any warning was given. The incident was the first in which Israeli forces used tear gas in a demonstration of this kind.
It began shortly before noon yesterday. The protestors shouted slogans such as “End the occupation” and “Open Bir Zeit.” Some distributed pamphlets in Hebrew and Arabic. Local residents remained on the sidelines but encouraged the demonstrators.
Bir Zeit University, regarded as a hotbed of Palestinian nationalism by Israeli authorities, was shut down after several days of campus disorders. The homes demolished by Israeli forces belonged to families whose members were accused of throwing gasoline bombs at Israeli vehicles.
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