Some 88,500 West Bank Arabs to Vote Monday in Municipal Elections

An estimated 88,500 West Bank Arabs are expected to go to the polls tomorrow to elect Municipal Councils in 24 localities in Judaea and Samaria. The election is being held in accordance with Jordanian law except that for the first time women and non-property owners are eligible to vote. In 1972, the last time a municipal election was held on the West Bank, there were only 31,746 persons registered to vote. There are 538 candidates running for the 205 seats at stake, including four women. (See special background report P. 4.)

Defense Minister Shimon Peres told a press conference Friday that Israel would allow pro-Palestinian Liberation Organization candidates to take office as mayors of West Bank towns if they are elected. He noted that some of the present mayors hold radical opinions. He guaranteed freedom of campaigning as long as the candidates stick to municipal issues. He said Israel will see to it that the election is conducted without any hindrance.

A break-down of the candidates shows that 10 percent are between 25 and 30 years old; 60 percent between 30 and 50, and the remaining 30 percent over 50. About 15 percent of the candidates are professionals, 25 percent businessmen and 15 percent farmers.

At his news conference. Peres said that the gross national product of the administered territories increased 18 percent last year and 124 percent since the 1967 Six-Day War. He noted that during the same period Israel’s annual growth in GNP was 7 percent; Egypt’s,2 percent; Syria. 6 percent; Lebanon, 4 percent, and Iraq, 3 percent. He added that there is no unemployment in the area and that persons on welfare dropped from 312,000 in 1968 to 55,000 in 1974.