The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a ruling by the military authorities administering the West Bank and Gaza Strip not to hold local elections in the territories.
The issue was brought to the court by the Arab village of Dura in the Hebron region which petitioned to elect its local officials. The justices described as legitimate the concern expressed by the military authorities that any elections on the West Bank might be used as a political tool by the Palestine Liberation Oraganization.
The last municipal elections in the territory, held in 1976, brought to office Arab radicals and nationalists identified with the PLO. They replaced the traditional Arab leadership which had been cooperative with Israel.
Under the likud-led government, most of the elected Arab mayors and town councils were deposed. Some were replaced by Arab appointees not under the influence of the PLO. In the larger Arab towns, the elected mayors were replaced by Israel Defense Force officers.
The new Labor-Likud unity government would like to replace these officers with Arab appointees. So far however, it has been unable to find competent people willing to take office and risk charges of collaboration with Israel.
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