Security Operations Have Checked Wave of Violence by Arab Terrorists; Many Captured

Police Minister Shlomo Hillel told the Knesset today that the Israeli police and security operations, having “exposed a number of sabotage rings,” had “checked the wave of violence” by Arab terrorists. But he recommended improved working conditions to attract necessary additional manpower. Mr. Hillel took part in a Knesset debate on “The Tasks of the Police Force in Combating Hostile Groups.” Meanwhile, reports were released that security forces have arrested 70 Israeli Arabs from the town of Acre and several Western Galilee villages in connection with five explosions that rocked the beach last Tuesday at Nahariya, a seaside resort north of Haifa. There were no casualties. Police have reported that several terrorist suspects have been arrested in connection with a series of attacks on railway lines and other communications facilities in the Gaza Strip. Three bunkers and arms caches were discovered after the arrests. Security forces have arrested several dozen guerrillas in recent weeks, among them a senior commander of El Fatah in the Hebron region and others who have confessed to a fatal attack on a tourist bus near Hebron last winter. According to disclosures, about 30 guerrillas were apprehended in the Samaria region in the process of organizing sabotage cells. Large arms caches were also discovered. The arrests in the Judaea region netted commandos with long records of terrorist activities including attacks on the Etzion settlements north of Hebron, security sources said.