Anti-Israel protests and scattered incidents of rock-throwing continued on the West Bank today for the third consecutive day, ending almost a year of relative quiet in the territory. According to Israeli sources, the renewed political unrest was openly encouraged by supporters of the Palestine Liberation Organization to thwart Israeli efforts to cultivate moderate Palestinian leadership.
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities claimed that two Arabs confessed to stabbing David Kopulsky, 28,in the center of Hebron Saturday night. Their houses were demolished and the curfew imposed on Hebron after the incident was lifted. Kopulsky, a resident of the Jewish religious township of Kiryat Arba, adjacent to Hebron, sustained knife wounds in the back.
Israeli sources noted today that the new policy on the West Bank instituted by Defense Minister Ariel Sharon has had hardly any practical application yet except for the appointment of Prof. Menahem Milson as director of the civilian administration. The intent of the policy is to put civilians in charge of local administrative matters and to include as many Palestinians as possible. Arabic newspapers in East Jerusalem described Milson as “forceful and dangerous.”
Col. Yaacov Katz was appointed commander of the military branch of the new administration. He is subordinate to the central command of the Israel Army which will continue to be responsible for security on the West Bank.
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