The Cabinet yesterday instructed Israeli police authorities to take all measures necessary to bring to justice those responsible for the demonstrations last week against Christian missionary schools in Jerusalem, Jaffa and Haifa and to employ the strictest measures in the future against unlawful assemblies and acts of violence.
The first proceedings against the demonstrators will begin tomorrow when nine youths detained in the Jaffa incident will be brought before a Tel Aviv Magistrate on charges of criminal trespassing. Next Monday, 104 others will face similar charges in connection with their demonstration at the St. Joseph’s Convent School in Jerusalem.
The government decision followed a vote of unanimous support by the members of the Cabinet for Prime Minister Levi Eshkol’s censure last week of those taking part in the demonstrations. At the same time, the government decided to defer consideration of a proposal by Religious Affairs Minister Zerach Warhaftig that the Cabinet deal with the general question of missionary activities in Israel.
Before the decisions, the Cabinet members heard a report by Foreign Minister Golda Meir on the reactions abroad to last week’s incidents as well as an account of the events by Police Inspector General Joseph Nachmias.
British Charge d’Affaires Desmond Pakenham today called on Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Nistim to discuss the demonstrations against the British school in Jaffa. Mr. Pakenham had already met with Religious Affairs Minister Warhaftig on the same issue.
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