Eban Rules Out Negotiation With Terrorists,
Blames 'Mass Violations' as Peace Obstacle
JERUSALEM (JTA) Foreign
Minister Abba Eban ruled out
Tuesday any Israeli participation
in an international deal with Arab
terrorists for the release of 55 hi-
jacked airline passengers and
crewmen held captive by them in
Jordan.
Addressing a special session of
the Knesset, Eban made it clear
that Israel considered it was mak-
ing a sufficient contribution to the
safety of the hostages by accepting
decisions by Britain, West Ger-
many and Switzerland to submit to
terrorist demands for the release
of seven Arab terrorists in their
custody. "The sole aim of these
seven thugs is an assault on the
lives of Israelis," Eban declared.
"If the three governments in-
volved are prepared to consider,
out of dire distress, purchasing the
liberation of all the hijacked per-
sons by these releases, it must
under no circumstances be claimed
that the contribution is in any
other coin than that of the safety
of Israelis," he said.
Eban's remarks represented his
gOvernment's first formal and full
statement of Israel's attitude to-
ward efforts being made to secure
the hostages release. It was seen
as a total rejection of demands
made by the Popular Front for the
liberation of Palestine in Beirut
Tuesday that Israel agree in prin-
ciple to free Arab terrorists be-
fore any deal is made. The PFLP
spokesman said that only after Is-
rael agreed, would it make known
the number and names of the
prisoners it wants freed. The PFLP
also demanded separate negotia-
tions with each of the European
governments for release of their
nationals among the hostages.
The foreign minister's state-
ment was also seen as a stiffen-
ing of his government's stand
under increasing pressure from
the Western Powers to make
ABBA EBAN IS SHOWN ADDRESSING NEWSMEN AT LYDDA AIRPORT.
some sort of concession for the tary regime took power Wednes- Tuesday night that the Interna-
release of the hostages. Eban day in hopes of staving off civil tional Red Cross had decided to
send a .new team to Amman to
however left the door open for war.
Israel, by its own initiative, to
Eban noted that International resume negotiations with the
make an "humanitarian gesture" Red Cross efforts to negotiate the commandos. The PFLP accused
at such time as the hostages are release of the hostages have been the Red Cross Tuesday of trying
released. Israel voluntarily freed ineffective. He said the British gov- to "gain time for the benefit of
a number of Arab prisoners in ernment was working on a solu- the imperialist countries" in its
1968 and early this year after tion. (Reports from London Wed- negotiations last week.)
Israel hostages were released nesday said that Britain, Switzer-
Israel lodged its 15th complaint
by Algeria and Syria.
land and West Germany were of Egyptian cease-fire violations
Another factor in Israel's refusal growing increasingly impatient with the United Nations Truce Su-
to be a party to any - dealis the with Israel and are pressuring that pervision Organization (UNTSO)
chaotic situation in Jordan where government for an Immediate, this week. Based on information in
the hostages are being held. clear statement of policy on the the possession of Israel Army. intel.
Should the Jordanian government hostages. A British foreign office ligence, the latest complaint
fall, or full-fledged civil war break official was quoted as saying that charged for the third time
out between King Hussein's regime "the longer the Israelis refuse to that Egypt has brought Soviet-made
and the Palestinian guerrillas, it is say anything, whether yes or no, SAM-3 anti-aircraft missiles into
highly doubtful that any final ar- the greater the danger is for our the standstill cease-fire zone in ad-
dition to the previously introduced
rangement would be honored, ob- people held hostages.")
(It was reported from Geneva SAM-2 missile s. Eban said
servers here said. A royalist mili-
"there are violations up to this
very day. The Russians are back-
ing up the actions of the Egyptians.
The flame of hope is burning low.
To rekindle it, there must be an
initiative on the part of the' Rus.
/dans and the Egyptians." He said
resumption of the Jarring talks
did not depend on a settlement of
marginal differences between Is-
rael and the United States. "There
must be a return to the situation
on the eve of the cease-fire," he
said. However, Eban indicated
that Israel wanted to perpetuate
the cease fire as long as possible
even if the Jarring talks are not
resumed.
Eban said that Israel was
not opposed to discussions being
held for the exchange of hostages
for seven Arab terrorists now in
custody in Britain, West Germany
and Sviitzerland. However, he said
that if those seven are freed, Israel
will consider that very fact to be
its contribution to the release of
all of the hostages. "The only
state whose security will be dam-
aged by the release of these seven
is Israel," Eban said. "These peo-
ple have tried to kill and will try
to kill Israelis. Their release would
be a death sentence to an unknown
number of Israelis. It should be
clear that by their release a cer-
tain degree of peril is added to Is-
raelis."
Commenting on the situation
in Jordan, Eban said that Is-
rael would deal with any govern-
ment that is the lawful ruler of
that country. He said the present
Jordanian government seemed un-
able to control the country and
anything could happen, including
PFLP leader George Habash be-
coming premier. "This, of course,
would have an influence on Israel.
In any case, Israel is keeping a
vigilant eye on events in Jordan
that can have a bearing on its own
security," Eban said.
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This look at the festering Middle East closely illustrates bow Egypt
has advanced missile sites in defiance of the peace agreement and has led to
an end to the cease fire engineered by the United States. Shown here are
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locations of oil wells and the Misfiring cease-fin zone, and the Phantom
fig ter bombers which the U. S. hat promised to sell to Israel The Arab
guerrilla terrorists say they will add destruction of the U. S. oil interests,
displayed here to their 111171AckIng Program.
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