Arabs Demonstrate in East Jerusalem, on West Bank on Anniversary of War

Arab youths stoned Israeli police officers in East Jerusalem this morning. The fracas occurred outside the Old City walls when police sought to disperse an estimated 300 marching demonstrators who were blocking traffic. Three policemen, one of them a senior officer, were injured. A partial strike hit several West Bank towns today as Arabs marked the first anniversary of the start of last June’s Six-Day War. But public services such as busses and taxis were running normally. Extra police and security forces patrolled the streets to maintain order and protect non-striking shopkeepers from hooligans. Almost all businesses were closed in Nablus. In Ramallah. some shops were opened in the morning. Most shops were closed in East Jerusalem but street vendors were selling bread and milk from improvised stands. Classes were suspended for the day in several West Bank schools.

The East Jerusalem clash developed when Arab youths, some carrying garlands, marched in the direction of the Moslem cemetery outside the city walls. Police asked the marchers to use the sidewalks instead of the road which they were blocking to traffic. They also insisted that only the garland bearers could continue the march to the cemetery. At that point, someone hurled a stone and the stoning quickly became general. Police brandishing batons dispersed the crowd. Two smaller demonstrations elsewhere in Jerusalem were also dispersed by police.