West Bank tense on eve of funeral

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34131, 19 April 1976, Page 13

West Bank tense on eve of funeral

'N’.Z PA -Reuter-Copyrightr JERUSALEM, April 18. The Israeli Army stood by today to guard against fresh trouble on the occupied West Bank of Jordan, where a six-year-old boy died in a riot yesterday.

The boy. mortally wounded by a rifle bullet in a clash between soldiers and local Arabs, will be buried today at Ramallah.

Just outside Ramallah, thousands of orthodox Jewish nationalists will begin a mass march through the West Bank to call attention to a claim that Jews have a historic right to settle anywhere in Biblical Palestine. Thev belong to the “Gush Fmunim” (Faith Bloc), and their leaders have asked them t«- earn.- persona! arms for the march. Their Israeli ooponents branded the march an unwarranted act of fanatics. The Faith Bloc has in the past mrde several attempts to found unauthorised settlements on the West Bank.

The Israeli Army said the boy killed yesterday fell mortally wounded when a demonstrator grappled with a soldier and the soldier’s rifle went off. Demonstrators threw stones at security forces trying to disperse rioters attacking the shop of a mer-

chant who had shot dead a political opponent the night before.

The Mayor of Ramallah has asked the Israelis to keep soldiers out of the town during today’s funeral, saying this would enable him to keep the peace. The town was reported to be quiet last night. Army sources said soldiers would be held ready to deal with any disturbances arising from either the Ramallah funeral or the Faith Bloc march.

The march organisers said yesterday that they expected about 20,000 participants, including entire families. They have given a formal undertaking to the military authorities that they will not enter any Arab village or inhabited area during their ramble, which will cover 18 kilometres today and 14 kilometres tomorrow, with a night stop at a special camp.