Professor Shahir Arafeh, Mrs. Raymonda Tawil, Mr. Arie Bregman,
Mr. Muhammad al-Batrawi, Mr. James Fine, Dr. Amin al-Khatib,
Dr. Haydar Abdul Shafi, Mr. Muhammad Khaas and Mr. Munir
Fasheh. I am also grateful to the many mayors and municipal officials
for the time and information they provided me, particularly Mr. Karim
Khalaf, Mr. Fahd al-Qawasmi, Mr. Bassam al-Shak'a, and Mr. Rashad
al-Shawwa.

Finally, to my very special editor and proofreader, my wife, many,
many thanks for the patience and encouragement without which this
whole project would not have come to fruition. I am also grateful
for the yeoman job which my two secretaries did in typing the manu-
script: to Cecilia Weber and Paula Lindsay, many thanks.

While many people contributed to this study, I alone am re-
sponsible for the final product.

EMILE A. NAIKHLEH