Four Arab members of Israel’s Parliament expressed “complete satisfaction” at the close of a lengthy conference with Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion last night with the Prime Minister’s promise of the widest possible easing of military government in Arab-populated sections of Israel.
The four Arab deputies, who met with the Prime Minister on the issue at his invitation, said that while opposing views had been expressed during the two-and-a-half hours, the “frank discussion” gave hope for a “better future.”
The Prime Minister was understood to have told the Arab MP’s that, on the agreed assumption that military government was essential for security reasons, he wanted them to offer suggestions for elimination of irksome aspects of military control they considered unnecessary.
He emphasized that he was confident that most Israeli Arabs were not receptive to inciting propaganda coming from neighboring Arab countries but that “certain elements” existed among the Israel Arabs which “compelled” watchfulness. Discussions included an agreement to hold further talks on development of education, agriculture and other services in the Arab-populated areas.
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