The East Jerusalem offices of Palestinian nationalist leader Faisal Husseini were shut down by security forces Sunday, as the Palestinian population observed a general strike to protest Israel’s official annexation of the city 10 years ago.
Husseini is regarded by many as the principal leader of the intifada, the Palestinian uprising in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that began two-and-a-half years ago.
The Israeli authorities shut down his Institute of Arab Studies two years ago on grounds that it was used for hostile activities. The closure order was renewed for another year.
Husseini opened two new offices in East Jerusalem, both of which were padlocked Sunday until July 1991.
The measures taken against Husseini seem to conform at least partially with those advocated by Elyakim Haetzni, a settlement leader from the West Bank and a Knesset member of the Tehiya party.
Haetzni presented the Knesset with a 28-point plan to end the intifada that included the closure of all Palestinian nationalist centers in East Jerusalem.
Defense Minister Moshe Arens, meanwhile, seems to be continuing his policy of defensive deployment of Israel Defense Force units along the main roads in the West Bank.
Security sources indicated that since the measures were taken, the degree of anti-Israel violence has decreased considerably.
Security forces also recently uncovered a terrorist gang in the Israeli Arab village of Tamra in the Galilee, alleged to have been involved in several attacks in Haifa and vicinity.
The gang was identified as part of El Fatah, the main faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
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