Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 4, 1993 TAG: 9305040123
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: JERICHO, OCCUPIED WEST BANK LENGTH: Medium
The men were greeted with the singing of "Biladi, Biladi" - "My country, my country" - the anthem symbolizing Palestinians' hope for their own state. But Jewish settlers in passing cars made obscene gestures, and Israeli demonstrators chanted "No Palestine."
As the protesters from the anti-Arab Kach party approached, Palestinians ran toward them, hissing and shouting. But Israeli soldiers chased off the demonstrators, and the occasion turned from strife to joy.
"I am very delighted to return to my land . . . I hope all those deported will return again soon. They have the right," said Dr. Adli Dallal, a physician from Nablus in the West Bank who was deported in 1969 for suspected anti-Israel activities.
Those who came across the Allenby Bridge from Jordan are among 30 long-term deportees whom Israel allowed back to encourage the Middle East peace talks in Washington. Fifteen returned Friday; another, now in Bulgaria, was expected back soon.
The deportees, some exiled for decades and now in their 70s, were met by several thousand people, including bands blaring songs of welcome, men doing the traditional Palestinian dabka dance and relatives weeping tears of joy.
The welcome was dimmed by thoughts of others among the more than 2,000 Palestinians deported by Israel since 1967, particularly the 400 whose exile as alleged Muslim radicals in December delayed the resumption of peace talks.
Palestinian negotiators first refused to return to the talks unless those men were allowed to come back from their tent camp at Marj el-Zahour in southern Lebanon. But after a series of Israeli gestures, the talks resumed last week.
A banner written in red at Monday's celebration said: "Our biggest joy will be when the deportees of Marj el-Zahour come back."
Meanwhile, in the occupied Gaza Strip on Monday, Israeli troops shot and killed four Palestinians when their car ran a military roadblock, the army and Arab reports said.
Two were identified as members of the Fatah Hawks vigilante group, affiliated with the Palestine Liberation Organization.
by CNB