Meaning of Strike Questioned by Jews, Arab Israelis, and Press

Life returned to normal in Israel’s Arab towns and villages today. But in the afternoon of yesterday’s violence many Israelis–Jewish and Arab–were seriously questioning the long cherished values of democracy and unlimited freedom of speech.

The wisdom of extending the protections of democracy to agitators and inciters to violence was challenged in many newspaper commentaries on yesterday’s events which claimed the lives of six Arabs and caused injuries to 31 Arabs and 38 Israeli soldiers, policemen and border policemen. Some editorial writers wondered why no action was taken against the pro-Moscow Rakah Communists and other radical elements who were known for weeks to be agitating for a general strike.

But many editorials called for a revaluation of Israel’s policy toward the Arab minority. The Jerusalem Post said that the Arab strike “was violent enough to bear out some of the worst fears about the growing estrangement of the country’s largest minority group from the Jewish majority.” It added that “more imaginative steps could have been taken to help make Israel’s Arabs feel fully-fledged Israeli citizens.”

Davar, the Histadrut daily, contended: “It is an over-simplification to maintain either that the incitement by Rakah was the cause of the unrest, or that the requisitioning of land was their main motive. These were catalysts in a situation of unrest that has built up over the years.” Al Hamishmar, organ of Mapam which is a member of the Labor Alignment, stated: “There should be a reappraisal of policy towards the Arab minority in order to deal with the roots of the discontent and bitterness exploited by the Israeli Communist Party.”

An Arab leader. Tarek Abdul Hai, chairman of the kalansuwa town council, charged bluntly today that Israel’s democracy was at fault for protecting inciters and other negative elements. He contended that the “silent majority” of Israeli Arabs opposed the strike and demonstrations but was compelled to cooperate with the strike organizers because Israel failed to protect the loyal majority. The lack of protection undermined those Arab elements who wanted to maintain law and order and strengthened the radicals who are hostile to the State, Hai said.

EFFORTS TO REDUCE TENSIONS

Large police forces remained concentrated in Galilee today. But they maintained a discreet distance from Arab towns and villages where the local authorities have apparently succeeded in restoring order. Curfews were lifted at Sakhnin. Araba and Dier Hanna, the scenes of some of the worst violence yesterday, and no new incidents were reported.

There was a minor stone-throwing melee in Nazareth last night but it was promptly quelled. Nazareth seemed normal this morning. Tourists were arriving and the local market was bustling as usual. No further trouble was reported in the so-called “little triangle,” a group of Arab villages on the Sharon plain northeast of Tel Aviv.

Local leaders were making efforts to reduce the tensions arising from yesterday’s disturbances. They seemed to be making headway. But most Israelis agreed that while life is returning to normal among Israel’s Arab population, wounds were opened yesterday that will take a long time to heal.