The United States “deeply regrets” the dismissal by Israel of the mayor of Gaza, Rashad a-Shawa. Israel removed the mayor last Friday for refusing to cooperate with the new civil administration on the West Bank and Gaza. He was the seventh mayor to be dismissed for this reason, last Tuesday, Israeli authorities dismissed the mayor of Jenin. Five other municipal officials had been removed before Israel entered Lebanon June 67
Commenting on the dismissal of a-Shawa, State Department spokesman Dean Fischer said he had been appointed mayor of Gaza under the Egyptians before 1967 and since then under Israel and “has been recognized as a legitimate representative and moderate spokesman for the concerns of his Palestinian constituents. Leaders with those qualities will be needed as we move toward resolution of the Palestinian issue under Camp David.”
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