Security preparations for the conference on Palestine, scheduled here from August 29 to September 7, has moved into high gear. It was officially announced that 1,720 Swiss soldiers and 1,000 policemen will guard the United Nations complex where the conference will take place.
Officially, the army and police are not allowed into the complex itself because it is extra-territorial. However, the gardens around the complex are the property of the city and thus the army and police can be stationed there.
Meanwhile, the Swiss daily, Le Courier, reported that a Neturei Karta delegation from Jerusalem will participate as observers at the conference. The sect’s spokesman, Rabbi Moshe Hirsh, said the delegation would represent “the Jews from Palestine.” He was also quoted as saying that the delegation would condemn the “Zionist State.” It is understood that the secretariat of the conference intends to invite other Israelis, such as lawyer Felicia Langer, who are publicly active on behalf of the Palestinians.
It was also announced that Palestine Liberation Organization chief Yasir Arafat will be attending the conference. According to a UN source, heads of states will not be participating, only Foreign Ministers.
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