Defense Minister Moshe Dayan gave a sympathetic hearing yesterday to Arab farmers in the Jordan Valley who protested that anti-terrorist measures taken by Israeli forces in the occupied territory prevented them from working their land. But Gen. Dayan told them, “If I must choose between ensuring the security of human life and the continuity of agricultural work, I shall chose the former.” The Defense Minister toured the Samarian and Judaean districts and visited the towns of Jericho and Jenin. He spoke to a delegation of Arab farmers whose lands are on the cease-fire demarcation line. Some of the land has been preempted for security purposes.
Gen. Dayan agreed to a mixed committee that would examine the farmers’ complaints and petitions. He said he wanted all farmers to be able to work their land in peace but noted that terrorists have been waging war in the district for nearly three years. It is not only the crop that is destroyed but Israeli soldiers and civilians have been killed, he said.
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