A West Bank village leader who cooperates with Israel was injured in the leg this morning when a booby-trap device exploded as he opened his car door. Kamal Fatafta, Mayor of Tarkoumiya village in the Hebron hills, underwent surgery at Hebron Hospital and was reported in “satisfactory” condition.
He was the third victim of violence against West Bank Arabs associated with the Village Leagues, an organization set up and financed by Israel to counter Palestine Liberation Organization influence in the territory.
Several months ago the Village Leagues leader in the Ramallah area and his son were fatally shot in a highway ambush, apparently by Palestinian terrorists.
Since that incident, the Israeli authorities have armed Village Leagues members. Mustafa Doudin, who heads the league in the Hebron district, promised increased security for members. He blamed Jordan for inciting the West Bank population against the Leagues. The Jordanian government announced earlier this month that Village Leagues members would be tried for treas on in absentia and executed.
FIVE WEST BANK VILLAGES UNDER CURFEW
Meanwhile, five Arab villages on the West Bank remained under curfews imposed this week after a series of disturbances. The curfew was lifted at the Balata refugee camp near Nablus. In Nablus itself, Israeli military authorities closed many shops whose owners participated in yesterday’s general strike.
At the same time, the Military Governor admonished Jewish settlers from nearby Elon Moreh who forced Arab villagers to remove a road block yesterday. He wamed them in the future to call the authorities in such instances.
Scores of West Bank Arabs are being brought to speedy trial for participating in unruly incidents during the week. In most cases the accused were not provided with defense counsel. Military sources said it was not customary to appoint counsels in such “simple trials” unless the defend ants specifically asked for legal aid. The accused face penalties of up to six months in jail and fines of up to 15,000 Shekels.
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