All territories occupied and administered by Israel since last June’s Six-Day War have ceased to be regarded as “enemy territory” and will be referred to by their official geographical names, according to a directive signed today by the Minister of Interior. The areas are Samaria and Judaea (West Bank), Golan (Syria), the Gaza region and Sinai. The directive was promulgated because hitherto anyone entering “enemy territory” was liable to prosecution under the anti-infiltration law.
Another directive signed by the Minister of Interior today designated the Allenby Bridge crossing on the Jordan River as an official Israeli point of entry and exit with the same status as Lydda Airport and Haifa harbor.
A court in Bethlehem today reversed its earlier stand and ruled that it is legal for Israelis lawyers to appear before it on behalf of their clients. The ruling was based on international precedents concerning the prerogatives of an occupying power. The court announced, however, it will continue to reject briefs presented in Hebrew or English on the grounds that Arabic is the official language of the West Bank territory. So far, the Israel Government has upheld the court on this point.
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