The World - News from June 7, 1989

The Israeli army tightened control over the movement of Gaza Strip Palestinians by issuing plastic identity cards to Gazans who want to cross into Israel. Each card has an ID photo and a magnetic strip that can store information. All Israelis and Palestinians carry identity papers, but the new cards will allow authorities to monitor Arab movement in and out of Gaza and stop Palestinians with a history of security or criminal violations, who will be denied a card. In Arab East Jerusalem, meanwhile, riot police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Palestinians attending the funeral of Omar Kassem, 48, a senior Palestine Liberation Organization figure who died Sunday in an Israeli military hospital.