960407

Palestinians, Israelis

protest against land

expropriation

JERUSALEM: About 800 Palestinians and Israeli sympathizers demonstrated Saturday in Bethlehem against an Israeli government plan to confiscate Palestinian land for a road.

Uri Avneri, a leader of the dovish Israeli group Gush Shalom, or "peace alliance," said the seizures would increase Palestinian bitterness against Israel.

"I am opposed to all land expropriations. I think they are unnecessary and harmful. But even if they were necessary, they should be by agreement with the Palestinian, not by order of the military governor," he said.

But Israeli official Shlomo Dror said: "all land expropriation is now coordinated with the Palestinian Authority, although it is not always easy for PA officials to admit this in public."

The Committee for the Defence of Land in Bethlehem, which organized the demonstration, said 1,700 acres were being confiscated from local Palestinian owners to build a "security road" along the border between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, which is under Palestinian control.

"There will be no real peace so long as the (Jewish) settlements remain," said Abd el-Jawad Saleh, an elected member of the Palestinian Council.

Dror, who is spokesman for Maj. Gen. Oren Shachor, coordinator for the Palestinian areas, said the road would benefit the Palestinians, as well.

"Drive along any of the security roads and I promise you will see Palestinian as well as Israeli cars," he said. "This road, like the others, passes Palestinian villages and we will connect them to it, at our expense."

The peaceful demonstration was guarded by Palestinian police. The demonstrators marched from Bethlehem Municipality to the land which is to be expropriated. There they planted 12 trees in a ceremony. Dror had not other details.-AP