Plo Bans Work In Jewish Settlements
The Age
Friday June 18, 1999
JERUSALEM, THURSDAY
Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority has imposed a series of tough new measures to force Palestinian construction workers to leave their jobs in Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip.
The sudden move is aimed at blocking the expansion of Jewish communities in Gaza and sending a signal to the incoming Israeli Government that such building activity could provoke a new crisis.
In recent days, Palestinian workers have been summoned to local police stations in Gaza and informed of the banning order. Many of the workers have been surprised by the severity of the penalties.
Some of the Palestinians were detained and threatened with jail sentences of up to one year and fines of 10,000 shekels, about $A4000. In other cases, the workers told their Jewish employees they were beaten by the Palestinian secret police.
The Palestinian Justice Minister, Mr Freih Abu Meddein, confirmed the new policy, saying it was aimed at preventing an outbreak of violence. He said the convoys of Israeli trucks bringing building materials for the construction of new homes in the Jewish settlements could be enough to provoke clashes.
Most Arabs vehemently oppose the construction of any new homes for Jews in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, land which the PLO regards as part of a future independent Palestinian state. But because of high unemployment in their areas, many Palestinians have accepted jobs building Jewish settlements.
The new policy appears to be taking effect. At the Netzarim Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip, only 10 of the 190 Palestinian construction workers reported for duty.
Palestinians and the international community consider settlements on West Bank and Gaza Strip land illegal and a violation of the 1993 Oslo peace accords.
© 1999 The Age