BEIRUT: Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) leader Yasser Arafat has ordered a “general mobilisation” of all Palestinian guerrillas in anticipation of Israeli attacks, the Beirut Press reported today [Nov 21]. Mr Arafat had also ordered an alert at all Palestinian refugee camps. The Beirut newspaper “Al-Muharrir”, which has close connections with the PLO, said that Mr Arafat had just concluded a “military conference” in Beirut, to discuss defence measures against the expected Israeli actions. The paper also said that Mr Arafat was postponing his flight to Moscow today because of the tense situation. Israeli retaliation measures are expected following the Arab guerrilla attack on Beit Shean… .

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Peshawar,] Freemasons had been declared illegal in NWFP and all their property and institutions had been taken over, Chief Minister Inayatullah Khan Gandapur told the Provincial Assembly here today [Nov 21]. The Chief Minister gave this information to the House on a question from Maulvi Abdus Samad, an Opposition member who asked about the legality of Freemasons’ activities.

Published in Dawn, November 22th, 2024