Joyous welcome home for West Bank mayors

Press, 27 December 1980, Page 6

Joyous welcome home for West Bank mayors

NZPA-Reuter Ramallah

An Arab mayor who lost a foot in a bomb attack earlier this year has received a tumultuous welcome - on his return to 1 his hometown m the Israeli-occupied West Bank. , , „ '. _ Mayor Karim Khalef of Ramallah, just north of Jerusalem, was carried on the shoulders of shouting, weeping supporters to the city hall after crossing over from Jordan on the Allenby Bridge. . Mr Khalef was one of three Palestinian mayors who were the targets or bomb attacks on June 2. Mayor Bassam Shaka of Nablus lost both legs and Mayor Ibrahim Tawil of ElBirch narrowly escaped a third blast. Mr Khalef was treated for his injuries in the United States and Mr Shaka, who js

expected? to return next week, was treateddn Britain. - The car carrying Mr Khalef had barely halted when welcomers carried him out of The vehicle, hoisted him on their shoulders and danced their, way into the city hall. . „ Scores, of women wept as the crowd shouted Palestinian nationalist slogans, including “This land is Arab and “We will redeem your suffering.” Mr Khalef promised to continue “the struggle to establish a Palestinian. State. Asked by a reporter whether he would query tne Israeli authorities about the investigation to find the attackers, the mayor shook his head. "No, no, we already know the attackers were Israeli extremists,” he said. Moderate Israeli leaders blamed Jewish militants for the attacks. But aides of the

Prime Minister (Mr Menachem Begin) said the culprits could have been rival Palestinians. Mr Khalef said he hoped two mayors expelled from the West Bank by Israel would be allowed to return. Mayors Fahd Qawasmeh of Hebron and Mohammed Milhem of Halhoul, who were accused by Israel of inciting violence, have been on a hunger strike at the United Nations headquarters in New York. On Christmas Eve, however, the two itiayors said they would leave the United Nations building but would continue their fast. Addressing a packed meeting in Ramallah’s municipal building, Mr Khalef said: '1 shall lead you as long as I have a head and tongue. This is the happiest day of my life.”