Arab Property Vandalized

A resident of Kiryat Arba was questioned by police today in connection with the large-scale vandalizing of Arab property in the nearby town of Halhoul on the West Bank early yesterday morning. According to witnesses, four unidentified men driving a white pick-up truck systematically smashed the windows and slashed the tires of 27 motor vehicles, virtually all that are owned in Halhoul. Headlights were also smashed and in some cases motors were deliberately damaged.

The suspect, Yossi Dayan, reportedly a member of Rabbi Meir Kahane’s Koch movement, denied taking part in the assault but said he was in favor” of such action. The police are seeking other suspects but the residents of Kiryat Arba, a Gush Emunim stronghold, have refused to cooperate.

The mayors of three large West Bonk towns — Karim Khalif of Ramallah, Ibrahim Tawil of El Bireh, and Fahed Kawasme of Hebron — sent protest telegrams to Defense Minister Ezer Weizman and Brig. Gen. Binyamin Ben Eliezer, the area commander, after visiting Halhoul today. The mayors said they cabled United Nations Secretary General Kurt Woldheim to odd the Halhoul incident to the current Security. Council discussion of the Hebron issue. They accused the Israeli authorities of covering up for vandalism against. Arabs on the West Bank.

Only four Halhoul residents lodged complaints. They told reporters that the assault occurred between 1-2 a.m. Wednesday. One car owner said he was awakened-by noise and saw armed men damaging his car. He said they cursed him in Arabic and warned him to get bock to his house.

Meanwhile, Israeli security forces fenced off an Arab school in the Jolazoun refugee camp near Ramallah today. No official explanation was offered but the measure appeared to be connected with Weizman’s recent promise of increased protection for Jewish settlers on the West Bank. Jolazoun residents have regularly stoned passing Jewish vehicles.