Ex-British Captain on Trial for Plot to Blow Up El Al Jet
BRACK NELL, England (JTA)
— The adventures of a retired
army captain who allegedly receiv-
ed $72,000 from an Egyptian agent
to blow up an El Al airliner at
London airport, were recited in a
crowded court room here Monday.
On trial is former Capt. Trefor
Owen Williams, 40, who is accused
of illegal possession of 111/2 ounces
of gelignite, two detonators and a
timing device. According to the
prosecution, the material was given
to him along with the cash by an
Egyptian secret agent who used
the code name "Omar Sharif."
Omar Shari( is the name of a
popular Egyptian born actor who
has appeared in many American
films. The cloak-and-dagger tale
unfolded Monday was based on
evidence given by Ronald Han-
nan, described by Prosecutor
Boris Smolar's
'Between You
... and Me'
(Copyright 1970, JTA Inc.)
SOVIET REVERBERATIONS: You read many of the new books
on the Soviet Union and you come inevitably across situations concern-
ing Jewish life in the USSR. One such hook is Arthur Miller's and Inge
Morath's "In Russia," now published by Viking Press.
Miller and Miss Horath—his wife. who has a world reputation
as a photographer—visited cities in Soviet Central Asia during a trip
to the Soviet Union. Their book tells the story of two synagogues which
the two prominent Americans found in Samarkand. Ancient and rick-
ety, the two synagogues stand side-by-side on a street in the old section
of the ciity.
The visitors found a covey of old men sitting in the little yard
before the synagogues. The elders were proud to show off old, cracked
Talmuds, broken-back prayer books, like treasures. However, they
abstained from asking the American guests any questions. It was
obvious to Miller that they did not trust the translater, a young Russian
student.
"What is going to happen tto Judaism once you are gone?" the
American author asked them. One of the old men replied: "God will
take care of that; He always does." Noting that the man stopped at
that, Miller added: "And, of course, Israel." The man nodded.
About a dozen other men gathered around the Americans, but
none said a word. Miller's attempts to communicate with them were
fruitless. The onlookers were expressionless and mute. They remained
expressionless—although interested—when Miller put some rubles in
the poor box at one of the synagogues.
The book is an exquisite volume richly illustrated with about 170
pages of photographs by Miss Morath, whose photographic art can be
found in the best American museums, including the Metropolitan Art
Museum in New York, Boston Museum of Art, Chicago Art Institute
and other great American art institutions.
JEWISH TRAGEDY: The tragedy of the Jews in the Soviet Union
Is also touched upon by Anatole Shub, former Moscow correspondent
of the Washington Post, in his book "The New Russian Tragedy," just
published by Norton. Shub was expelled from Russia last May
after beeing stationed there for two years.
The author refers to the fierce "anti-Zionist" campaign which
has continued unabated in the Soviet Union since Israel's victory in
the Six-Day War in 1967. He says that both Jews and anti-Semites
in Russia consider this campaign as potentially lethal as Stalin's mur-
derous drive against "rootless cosmopolitans," which culminated in the
mass-killing of Jewish intellectuals and the liquidation of all Jewish
cultural institutions. "Even in civilized Leningrad," Shub writes,
"Jews say the climate is the worst since 1952."
The author charges the Kremlin with precipitating the 1967 Arab-
Israel war by spreading false reports that Israeli troops were about
to attack Syria. He reveals that Soviet secret service agents are at
work among the Arab guerrillas as "liberation fighters," although
there have been occasional notes of criticism.
The author does not believe that Moscow is sincere in its talk
of establishing tranquility in the Middle East by asking for Israel's
withdrawal from Arab territories acquired in the 1967 war. He points
out that the Soviet diplomatic "reasonable" proposals with regard
to the Arab-Israel conflict rarely appear in the Soviet press.
STALIN'S ORDER: The mystery of the murder of Solomon Mik-
hoels, the famous director of the Jewish State Theatre in Moscow, is
revealed by Stalin's daughter, Svetlana Alliluyeva, in her "Only One
Year," published by Harper. The brutal murder of Mikhoels—he was
run over by a truck while on a visit to Minsky—was the beginning
of the liquidation by Stalin of all Jewish writers and the closing down
of all Jewish cultural institutions.
The author relates that on the day when Mikhoels was assassinated,
she entered the room of her father while Stalin was speaking to some-
one on the telephone. He was listening to a report and finally said
as if her were suggesting: "Well, it's an automobile accident." He
then turned to her and said: "Mikhoels was killed in an automobile
accident." But on the next day, when she came to the university, she
learned from a weeping girl student how brutally Mikhoels had been
murdered.
The Soviet newspapers, of course, reported that event as an "auto-
mobile accident," but Miss Alleluyeva implies that the telephone
conversation which she overheard would indicate that Mikhoels was
killed in cold blood on orders of her father. "I knew all too well my
father's obsession with 'Zionist' plots around every corner." she writes.
"It was not difficult to guess why this particular crime had been re-
ported directly to him."
Miss Alleluyeva describes the years when her father invented the
accusation of "Zionist plotting" as years when "darkness thickened
(for Soviet Jews) beyond all endurance." Even Paulina Molotov, the
Jewish wife of Stalin's foreign minister, was arrested on charges of
Zionist plotting. Her husband Vyacheslav Molotov, could do nothing
about it. Jews who held prominent positions in government and in
science were similarly arrested. The notorious "Doctor's Plot" was
then cooked up. The official temper of the times then was to expel
all Jews from Moscow.
This is the second book by Stalin's daughter since she refused
to return to Russia from a visit to India and found asylum in the
United States. It throws light on the anti-Jewish hatred implanted
by Stalin personally during the last years of his life—a hatred which
Stalin's successors in the Kremlin have not attempted to eradicate.
It is now even being fortified by the constant anti-Israel propaganda
111 the Soviet media and in official speeches by Soviet diplomats.
Peter Barnes as an "unwilling
accomplice" of Williams. Han-
nan went to the police before
the alleged plOt could be car-
ried out.
According to the prosecution,
Williams and Hannan contacted
the military attache at the Egyp-
tian Embassy in London and of-
fered their services against Israel
in return for payment. They were
sent to Cairo where they reported-
ly discussed five sabotage projects
with an official described as a
"chief of staff."
One involved blowing up an El
Al Boeing 707 jetliner which ar-
rives at London airport once a
week. The agreed price was $72,-
000. "There was further talk of
other projects and of other pay-
ments totalling $4.8 million,"
Barnes said. The two mercenaries
were then flown to Amman, Jor-
dan, where they were met by
"Omar Sharif." The later instruct-
ed them in the fine points of blow-
ing up planes and paid them, the
prosecutor said. But Hannan got
cold feet when they returned to
London and spilled the alleged
plot.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Arabs Are Disenchanted
BASEL (TINS)—The Swiss Jour-
nal "Basler Nachri•hten" reports
that the Arab League is consider-
ing closing its bureau in Geneva
in protest of the sentences impos-
ed on Arab terrorists who attack.
ed the El Al aircraft at Zurich.
According to this report, the
Sudan and a number of other
Arab states have decided to re-
consider the question of their
diplomatic relations with Swit-
zerland. It is reported that the
Swiss f i n a n c i a 1 community
chuckled over the threat that
Arabs would withdraw their
accounts from Swiss banks.
They noted ironically that Arab
oil magnates, fearing the conse-
quences of revolutions in their
own countries, have no more
IF YOU TURN
ma
Friday, January 16, 1970-7
- — -
With Swiss 'Hospitality '
secure refuge for their money
than a Swiss hank. On the other
hand, the Swiss are gravely con-
cerned about Arab threats to seize
Swiss possessions and to kidnap
Swiss citizens in order to bring
pressure on the government to free
the three convicted Arab terror-
ists.
T H. Grant
INCORPORATED
,
A
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enelfet....
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in Fin'e ewels
S :44• ta-lam, 40- .;, ,t-
UPSIDE DOWN YOU WOW?
FIND A FINER WINE THAN
20010 James Coutin s Drive
Detroit 35. Michigan
co,Npate Oafq04442-.
Phone:342-5666
Milan Wineries, Detroit, Mich.
SALES RECORD
The year 1969 produced more
sales for the B. F. CHAMBER-
LAIN Real Estate Company than
any other year in the finn's
h istory.
•
Business is good! And our guar-
anteed TRADE program has
given many prospective pur-
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for them to buy BEFORE their
home is sold. May we help you!
PINEWOOD MANOR
One of Southfield prime locations
is where you'll find this immacu-
late four-bedroom brick Cape Cod.
21/2 nicely tiled bathrooms. Gor-
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log burning fireplace. Formal din-
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throughout. Attached two-car ga-
rage. Fast possession. AAA move-
in condition. Only $42,900. EL
3.9000
SOUTHFIELD
In
the ravines, 9 Mile-Inkster
area. Magnificent custom-built
quad level, 4 bedrooms plus 27
ft. family room and den which
can be a 5th bedroom. Maid's
quarter with bath. Central air con-
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heat control. Sauna bath and
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1st floor laundry room, 3 full
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in an excellent neighborhood be
sure to see this home. Asking
$83,000. LI 8-1500
SOUTHFIELD
Contemporary ranch on a 170x
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room with natural fireplace. Dish-
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BEAUTIFUL CORNER LOT
2-bedroom cope cod in lovely
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OAK PARK
2,400 sq. ft. 3-bedroom ranch in
excellent Northland location. Suit-
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and 9 Mile-Greenfield shopping
and office complex. Huge 24x 16
Living room. $32,000. LI 8 - 1500
SOUTHFIELD
Assume a $25,000, 61/2% mort-
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that is offered for the first, time.
Four very nice-sized bedrooms,
21/2 baths. Unusual family room
has natural fireplace. Large kitch-
en. Formal dining room. Beautiful-
ly carpeted. Central air condition-
ing. Attached 21/2-car garage.
Owner transferred. Asking $43,-
900. EL 3-9000
GRACIOUS AND SPACIOUS
A lifetime of pleasant living in
this fine 4-bedroom brick colonial
is ready to welcome you. It has
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PRICED RIGHT
at $27,500 with children in mind.
May we present this move-in con-
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CRANBROOK VILLAGE
OAK PARK
Central air conditioning, 3-bed-
room ranch, dishwasher, disposal,
carpeting and drapes, sprinkling
system, beautiful finished
rec.
room with wet bar and stools.
Close to schools and transporta-
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SOUTHFIELD
Located on a large landscaped lot
is this fresh new listing. A three-
bedroom brick ranch. Bright kitch-
en with table space. Paneled and
tiled recreation room with bor in
the full basement. Attached 21/2 -
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3-9000
SOUTHFIELD
This elegant ranch is located in
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living and dining . rooms. 17-foot
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Beautiful carpeting and drapes
throughout. Central air, sprinkler
system. Tiled basement. An ex-
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PERFECT STARTER HOME
Three-bedroom, 2-bat h brick
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Modem kitchen with built-in ap-
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Immaculate 2-bedroom ranch in
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SOUTHFIELD
Sparkling white aluminum siding.
Built in 1954. Three generous-size
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LI 8-1500
9000
SOUTHFIELD
Located in Sharon Meadows, on
absolutely gorgeous 1965 con-
temporary tri-level. Very large
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Two full baths and two lavatories.
28-foot family room has a fire-
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Sprinkler system. Attached two.
car garage. $55,900. EL 3-9000
SOUTHFIELD
Simply immaculate is this 1963
built brick ranch. Three large
bedrooms. 11/2 baths. Completely
finished recreation room in the
basement. 80x152 fenced lot. At-
tached two-car garage. FHA
$35,900. EL 3 - 9000
24621 Coolidge Hwy.
Oak Park
LI 8-1500
3-9000
BEACON - SQUARE
WOW ! ! Don't miss seeing this
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system. Beautifully carpeted. Ask-
ing $47,900. EL 3-9000
26840 Southfield Rd.
Lathrup Village
LI 3-9000