Israel Questions Palestinian Students

AP | 7/02/02 | MARK LAVIE

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JERUSALEM, Jul 02, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- The army lifted its curfew Tuesday in the West Bank city of Hebron to allow students to take exams - then rounded up about 300 Palestinian students for questioning, witnesses said.

Soldiers ordered men and women students at the Palestinian Polytechnic Institute, a two-year-college, into separate groups and checked identification cards and questioned students, witnesses said.

There was no immediate word if any students were detained as part of Israel's search for suspected Palestinian militants. The army did not immediately comment.

Also, the Israeli army pulled out of the West Bank town of Qalqiliya after occupying it for 10 days, but remained on the outskirts. The army said it was prepared to go back into the town to carry out raids or to patrol if necessary.

With the pullout from Qalqiliya, the army is now in six of the eight main Palestinian cities and towns in the West Bank. The round-the-clock curfew was lifted for several hours Tuesday in Bethlehem, but remained in place in other areas.

Israel launched its latest West Bank incursion after a pair of suicide bombings in Jerusalem two weeks ago. No Israelis have been killed by Palestinians for the past 12 days.

Meanwhile, about 4,000 Palestinians marched on the seaside compound of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Monday, protesting worsening economic conditions.

The demonstrators chanted, "We want jobs! We want food!" in a rare, large public demonstration against Arafat. Most Palestinians blame the Israelis for their troubles, pointing to roadblocks and travel restrictions that devastated their economy during 21 months of violence.

The Israelis say the restrictions, including a ban on Palestinians working in Israel, are necessary measures to prevent attacks like suicide bombings. Work in Israel was a major source of income for Palestinians in Gaza before the current violence erupted in September 2000 and the gates were shut.

Arafat has not been in Gaza since late last year. Much of the time, as now, he has been confined to his West Bank headquarters in the town of Ramallah, surrounded by Israeli tanks.

Though Arafat still has widespread support, the demonstration was a sign of growing frustration with the Palestinians leadership.

Israel blames Arafat for the Palestinian violence, charging he has done nothing to stop the extremist groups and has given at least tacit approval to attacks by militias close to him.

The Palestinians counter that Israeli occupation and the harsh restrictions imposed by the Israeli military have led to widespread frustration and desperation, fertile ground for extremist groups recruiting bombers.

By MARK LAVIE Associated Press Writer

Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved