Yesterday’s elections in seven Arab and Druze villages brought no changes in the local political complexion. Communist-sponsored town council lists won in two villages–Afr Maqr and Dier el Assad–where Communists already held the office of mayor. The Labor Party-supported incumbent mayor of Sakhnin village was re-elected and pro-Labor candidates also won in Kufr Kara and Beth Jan.
The Labor-backed municipal council lists won a majority in Joulis and Nahef but since none of the mayoral candidates received the required 40 percent of the votes, a run-off election will be held.
Labor Party experts on Arab affairs are claiming today that the election results show that the Arab public does not blindly follow the Communists and other extremists. They point to the results in Sakhnin where three local residents were killed in the March 30 clash with Israeli security forces.
The elections were conducted in an orderly atmosphere except for attempted arson in the town hall of Kara village. A fire was started before dawn. Police believe it was connected with the election of the Labor-backed mayor.
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