Three hundred leading Arabs from the Hebron area have appealed to Israeli military authorities to rescind an order sealing off a 750 acre tract in the region that was considered a pocket for terrorist activities. The Arabs agreed, after a stormy meeting at Hebron last night, to “wait and see” how their appeal is received before taking further action. Sheikh Mohammed All Jaabari, Mayor of Hebron, urged patience. Some of the local leaders wanted to take the case to the United Nations and others advocated calling a general strike on the entire West Bank if the order is not rescinded. Mayor Jaabari appealed to Defense Minister Moshe Dayan and other Israeli authorities not to post more troops in the Hebron area. He also urged terrorists to keep out of towns and villages “if they believe in God and the homeland.” The Israeli military order, announced last week, was officially described as a measure to combat terrorism which has been on the rise in the Hebron region. The 750 acres will not be confiscated but turned into a military zone to which Arabs can come and go only with special permission. Israeli officials denied that the order had anything to do with controversial plans to build a Jewish suburb adjoining Hebron, an all Arab town.
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