Eban Urges Greek Government Not to Honor Its Agreement to Release Seven Terrorists

Foreign Minister Abba Eban urged the Greek government today not to honor its agreement with Arab hijackers to release seven Arab terrorists, since that promise was extracted under duress. It is Israel’s “very strong view,” he said, that Greece is not obligated, under the codes of international justice and morale, to carry out such an agreement. Speaking at a Foreign Press Club luncheon, Mr. Eban warned that yielding to hijackers’ threats would lead to another wave of airline sabotage just when the international community is intensifying efforts to outlaw air piracy. The Israeli diplomat also expressed astonishment at the participation of the International Red Cross in the agreement with the hijackers. He said his government has instructed two diplomatic representatives–Yaacov Karoz, in Athens, and Ambassador Mordecal Kidron, at the Geneva office of the Red Cross–to press the Greek government and the I.R.C. on the reasons for their actions. Mr. Kidron will also seek to determine if the Geneva Convention applies to convicted criminals. Mr. Eban’s statements reversed a government decision, made prior to the Greek agreement with the hijackers, not to consider the incident as one of concern to Israel. But growing anger on the part of Israeli officials over the terms of the agreement caused the government to abandon its neutrality.

Six Arab hijackers threatened to blow up a Greek airliner at the Athens airport yesterday if Greece did not free seven Arab terrorists. The Greek government agreed yesterday to release the seven within a month. Andre Rochat, the Red Cross’ Middle Eastern representative, who volunteered to mediate in yesterday’s incident, accepted Greece’s offer to have the seven prisoners turned over to the I.R.C. He also accompanied the hijackers to Cairo as a hostage; the five crew members were also taken along, after the 53 passengers were released. One of the hijackers was a girl. In Tel Aviv, Mrs. Sonia Sheridan, the widow of the Israeli maritime engineer killed by the two Palestinians, also said the arrangement between Greece and the hijackers has eliminated the sabotage-deterrent element. “All we have achieved and wanted to achieve by the conviction of the terrorists that have killed my husband,” she said, “have now been washed away with the decision to set them free according to the demand of the hijackers.” (It was reported in London that Greece has warned Arab countries that if any more Arab-sprung terrorist incidents occur on Greek soil, it will break diplomatic relations with some or all the countries. Deputy Premier Stylianos Pattakos summoned the ambassadors of all Arab countries represented in Athens and personally issued the warning. The “get tough” policy came within hours of yesterday’s tense hijacking.)