Aaron Lerner 7 November, 1996Aaron Lerner 7 November, 1996

IMRA interviewed Mustafa Natseh, Mayor of Hebron, in English, on 7
November, 1996

IMRA: What is the situation in Hebron today? What is the level of
tension?

Natseh: The same level as in the past days.

IMRA: What do you think will happen if negotiations continue to
drag on? Will tension remain at the current level?

Natseh: Only God knows.

IMRA: Dr. Nabil Kukali of the Palestinian Center for Public
Opinion at Beit Sahour did a poll of Hebronites on October 15 and
only a minority, 37.8%, said that they would heed President
Arafat's call to stop carrying out military or suicide attacks
against Israel. Do you think the poll is accurate?

Natseh: No it is not accurate. The majority of Hebron is with
Arafat.

IMRA: What about Hamas?

Natseh: The Hamas have certain ideas. They are against the peace
process. But there is a dialogue between Hamas and the Palestinian
Authority.

IMRA: Are many Hebronites Hamas?

Natseh: A lot are Hamas.

IMRA: Do you expect that the Palestinian Authority will have
trouble collecting weapons from Hebronites?

Natseh: There are no weapons in Hebron so there will be no
problem. The weapons are in the hands of the settlers.

IMRA: In the final agreement, for a true peace, will the Jews be
able to stay in Hebron?

Natseh: This is a question for the negotiations. When we
negotiate the final agreement we will present our ideas.

IMRA: So it may be possible for them to stay?

Natseh: I do not want to talk about this now. This is a question
for the negotiations of the final agreement.

IMRA: Ultimately, do you think that Jews will be permitted to pray
inside the Mosque of Ibrahim (Tomb of the Patriarchs) ?

Natseh: They can visit it.

IMRA: What about pray there?

Natseh: There is a synagogue nearby, the Abrahim Synagogue. They
can pray there.

IMRA: Will the Avraham Aveinu Synagogue remain intact in the final
arrangement?

Natseh: You are talking about the final status negotiations and I
am not prepared to talk about this now.