Military Tribunal’s Verdict on Shaka Affair Appears Imminent

The drawn out Bassam Shaka affair neared its climax today as the military tribunal that reviewed the Nablus Mayor’s deportation order pondered its verdict, due to be delivered shortly to the West Bank commander Meanwhile, Shaka ended his 12-day hunger strike today because the sugar content in his blood dropped to a dangerously low level.

The three-man tribunal sat long past midnight as Shaka’s lawyer, Felicia Langer, sparred with army attorneys over whether the popular Palestinian leader ought to be expelled for alleged pro-terrorist activities. Shaka is understood to have submitted a statement to the bench defining his position on the taking of innocent lives in terrorist attacks.

The Nablus Mayor was originally arraigned after a talk he had with an Israel army general in which he allegedly expressed sympathy for the Haifa-Tel Aviv coastal road terrorist killings of March 1978. Shaka claims his words were distorted and misquoted. The army contends that there is much more evidence linking Shaka with Palestine Liberation Organization activities which warrants his expulsion.

The tribunal’s verdict, which may not be delivered till after the weekend, is not binding upon the authorities but carries some influence. Ultimately, the decision rests with the Cabinet which will probably refer to the case at its session this Sunday. Shaka still has recourse to the Supreme Court. Langer has given notice that she will appeal to the high court if the tribunal supports the expulsion order.

When the hearing opened in Ramle late yesterday, Shaka’s wife and several West Bank mayors held a solidarity rally outside. They were not allowed to meet with the jailed mayor. The Shaka hearing coincides with the 32nd anniversary of the United Nations partition resolution and there was a rash of unrest on the West Bank today. An especially rowdy demonstration took place in Kalkilya. It was broken up by border police.

ELON MOREH ISSUE REACHING A CLIMAX

Meanwhile, Jewish leaders of the “Samaria Local Council” said today that they would organize a “self-defense” organization to ensure peace and quiet in the area. They said they did not want to “substitute for the army” but were not prepared to be stoned and otherwise impeded in their daily business by local Arabs.

The Elon Moreh issue is also due to reach a climax in the next few days. There have been reports of an evolving “deal” linking the Shaka case to Elon Moreh whereby the charges against the Nablus mayor would be dropped in return for the postponement by local Arab landowners of their intended appeal to the Supreme Court for the immediate evacuation of the remaining land held by Elon Moreh settlers. But government sources either deny all talk of a “deal,” or else intimate that no bargain could be struck.

Government sources warned today that the Elon Moreh settlers must announce over the weekend that they are willing to transfer to Djebal Kebir about six miles away in order to give the authorities time to build the alternative settlement there before the six-week deadline granted by the Cabinet 12 days ago elapses.