Israel Prepares to Reopen Schools in West Bank

JERUSALEM — Israel ordered preparations Wednesday for the gradual reopening of schools in the occupied West Bank, closed for most of the 19-month-old Palestinian uprising.

The move follows mounting international pressure, notably from the United States, for Israel to relax its clampdown on the occupied territories.

Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin set no date for returning the 320,000 Arab pupils to their schools, closed because of chronic unrest.

The order appeared to reverse previous government demands for guarantees from Palestinian leaders to maintain order in schools and prevent pupils from joining demonstrations before any reopening.

Rabin issued his order a week before a U.S. government delegation visits Jerusalem to test the sincerity of Israel’s offer to hold Palestinian elections in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Washington has repeatedly urged Israel to reopen schools as a confidence-building measure.

Israel first shut them in February, 1988, two months after the uprising erupted. The closure affected classes from kindergartens to high schools.

In a related development, President Chaim Herzog warned Wednesday that Israel faces a threat of anarchy from Jews avenging Palestinian attacks.

Dozens of Israelis have taken to the streets, hurling stones at Arab motorists to retaliate for the killing of 14 Jewish bus passengers last week in the most deadly Palestinian attack in more than 10 years.

Speaking at a swearing-in ceremony for new judges, Herzog said: “Anyone who believes he has a right to take the place of the rule of law endangers the very essence of our society, because if it is permissible for one, it is permissible for all, and the result will be anarchy and chaos.”

In the occupied West Bank, meanwhile, Palestinians shot and wounded an Arab woman suspected of aiding Israeli authorities and severely beat her husband, a hospital official said.

During clashes in the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops shot and wounded five Palestinians, including a 6-year-old child, hospital officials said.