The deportation order against Mayor Bassam Shaka of Nablus was revoked today on the recommendation of a mrlitary tribunal hearing his case. The Mayor was promptly released from Ramle jail where he had been confined for the past month and allowed to return to his office in Nablus with a request that he “stick to municipal affairs” in the future.
The mayors of 23 other towns on the West Bank and Gaza Strip who resigned last month in protest against Shaka’s arrest, were expected to return to work today. Their collective resignations were never officially accepted by the Military Government.
Shaka’s release was announced this morning by Brig. Gen. Arye Ben-Eliezer, the commander of the West Bank, who had originally signed the deportation order and would have been responsible for carrying it out. He said the special military appeals committee hearing Shaka’s case concluded that the evidence, on which the deportation order was based, was, indeed, valid.
But “in light of the overall circumstances” the committee recommended reconsideration, Ben-Eliezer said. He said that after consultations with his “superiors” he decided to revoke the deportation order and reinstate Shaka as Mayor.
DECISION IS EXPECTED TO EASE TENSIONS
The decision is expected to ease tensions on the West Bank and in Israel as well where public opinion was sharply divided over the wisdom of deporting the pro-Palestine Liberation Organization mayor. Shaka was removed from office by the Military Government for remarks he made in a private conversation with Mal. Gen. Danny Matt, then coordinator of the administered territories, in which he allegedly justified the March 1978 terrorist raid on Israel’s coastal highway in which 34 civilians were Killed. Shaka insisted that his remarks — leaked to the press — were deliberately distorted.
He said that he had never justified the Killing of innocent people but had merely warned the Israeli official that terrorism would continue as long as the Palestinian problem remained unresolved. A transcript of his conversation tended to confirm Shaka’s long record of anti-Israel incitement warranted his expulsion.
The case was brought to the Supreme Court last month but the justices declined to hear it until all other legal channels were exhausted. At that point it was referred to the special military committee with the proviso that Shako could reinstate his appeal to the high court if the decision went against him.
HOPES PEACE PROCESS WILL BE AIDED
Ben-Eliezer told reporters today that he hoped the decision would “contribute to mutual understanding in this peace process in which we are engaged.” He was referring to the autonomy negotiations between Israel, Egypt and the United States. Fears had been expressed in Israel and abroad that the deportation of Shaka would have on adverse effect on the autonomy talks. The Shaka case in fact became on international matter when the United Nations Security Council, in a unanimous statement at consensus, urged Israel to release the Nablus mayor.
Shaka’s release was welcomed by the West Bank mayors today and by former Premier Yitzhak Rabin. Rabin told reporters he was sorry it had not come sooner. The left-wing Sheli faction and other opposition parties also hailed the military committee’s decision,. But Gush Emunim sources were bitter. They said that they now might reconsider their agreement to evacuate Elon Moreh.
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