Israel Holds 23 Arab Students for Alleged Terrorist Connections

Two more Arab students suspected of membership in a terrorist organization were detained by security forces here last week, bringing to 23 the number of Arab university and high school students arrested on the West Bank or in Israel proper in recent weeks for alleged terrorist connections or sympathies.

Earlier, the arrests of three Arab students at Tel Aviv University and four high school students from Um el-Fahem village were ordered by magistrates courts in Tel Aviv and Ramla. They are suspected of membership in a hostile organization and of planning to establish such an organization. Another 14 students were under detention as suspected members of the National Progressive Organization, an extreme left-wing group that rejects the legitimavy of Israel and supports the Palestine Liberation Organization. One of them, Ali Hass, a Hebrew University student released two days ago, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he was Interrogated for 16 days about the activities of the National Progressive Organization and his political beliefs. No further legal action has been taken against him.

Meanwhile, Arab students at Hebrew University held a press conference to protest the continued closure of Bir Zeit University on the West Bank, north of Ramallah. The University was shut down by the Military Government on May 3, Israel Independence Day, following demonstrations by students. The students insist their demonstration was peaceful but the Israeli authorities described it as a riot. They said the University will remain closed until assurances are given that law and order will be maintained. The Military Government has also podlocked three high schools and a women teachers’ seminary on the West Bank since the beginning of last March.