West Bank Unrest Hits Jerusalem

West Bank unrest spread to Jerusalem today where police had to use tear gas to disperse stone-throwing youngsters. This latest in the spate of disturbances throughout the West Bank was also in protest at the magistrate court’s decision permitting Jewish prayers at the Temple Mount. The young nationalists are apparently unimpressed by the government’s repeated assurances that such prayers will not be permitted–nor by action taken by Jerusalem police last week to actually prevent young Jews from praying on the Mount.

In Ramallah and El Bireh, adjoining towns near Jerusalem, the total curfew imposed yesterday was still in force tonight. It had been lifted for two hours during the afternoon to allow people to stock up on food. This afternoon, three curfew-breakers in Ramallah were fined IL 500 by a military court. Elsewhere on the West Bank, only minor disturbances were reported. The radio said school studies were disrupted in several places and in some towns youngsters set up roadblocks.

Defense Minister Shimon Peres toured the area-today and met with local leaders later in his Tel Aviv office, including the Mayor of Nablus, Haj Mazouz al-Masri, who has resigned, together with his council, as a mark of protest at the Temple Mount verdict and at the continued settlement at Kadum camp nearby.

Peres told the West Bank leaders, according to an official communique, “to assure that law and order prevail in their towns.” He cautioned that the Israel Defense Force would take the required measures and would not hesitate to act vigorously in the face of any disturbances of public order.

Peres also stressed to the mayors that the Israeli authorities firmly intend to hold the elections required by law in the West Bank municipalities in May. Election day is scheduled for May 12.