The State Department drew a rhetorical line today between “Palestinian terrorists” and the “Palestine Liberation Organization” and reported that “the PLO” is being constructive in connection with the 50 Americans being held hostage in the U.S. Embassy compound in Teheran.
In face of persistent and increasingly firm reports that Palestinians are deeply involved in the hostage-taking and blackmail, the State Department said that its information on who is in the Embassy compound is “very imperfect” and that it has “nothing to announce about their identities.”
“We are in a state of ignorance about what is going on in the Embassy,” Department spokesman Thomas Reston replied at one point during intense questioning by reporters. However, when he was asked if it is “possible Palestinians are in there,” he replied, “sure.”
CAPTORS NO LONGER JUST IRANIANS
The questioning followed a CBS news broadcast last night that reported on the basis of work by “American intelligence experts” that the captors in the Embassy compound are “not just students and they are no longer just Iranians.” Other reports had said previously that “the Patriotic Front for the Liberation of Palestine,” a part of the PLO, was involved. The PLO frequently dissociates itself from terrorist acts and allows segments of its organization to take credit for them for tactical propaganda purposes.
In the report by diplomatic correspondent Marvin Kalb in Washington, CBS said “When Washington raised the threat of military intervention” to free the hostages, “U.S. experts say an unknown number of Palestinian guerrillas joined the Iranians Inside the compound and provided what is called technical assistance.
“CBS News has learned that it was Palestinians who mined the Embassy grounds and walls and taken a direct hand in the security of the hostages. The Palestinians are still there, which explains why Arabic is heard while in the compound in addition to the (Iranian) native language, Parsi. The Palestinians who early on tried to serve as intermediaries are said to be playing both sides of the street — drumming popular support in the U.S. while doing Khomeini’s bidding inside the Embassy.”
When Reston was asked, at the opening of the questioning on this issue, about the “participation by Palestinian terrorists” in Teheran, he replied, from prepared notes: “We have no evidence of it. We have no reason to believe the take over of the Embassy and holding of our people as hostages is anything but an Iranian operation or that control over that situation is in anybody’s hands but Iranian hands.”
He added, “Palestinians in the past have, it is true, provided training for some Iranians since the revolution. As to the identity of any individuals who may be in the Embassy compound, we have no way of knowing who all of them are We have no evidence of any current relationship between outside organizations and those occupying the Embassy compound.”
WORDING IS CHALLENGED
Reporters challenged Reston’s wording. They asked if he did not know “all” who are inside the compound, did he know of “some” and who they are. The State Department spokesman replied that he has “nothing to announce about their identities” and that “We are in a state of ignorance about what is going on in the Embassy.” This response seemed to contradict reports and information that has been forthcoming from released hostages and non-American sources in Teheran.
Asked if the “PLO is continuing to play a constructive role” in the Teheran situation, Reston replied, “It is my understanding they are still trying to get our people out.” Challenged as to why he specifically suggested that the PLO was constructive when the State Department has avoided identifying negotiators in the past, he said, “Maybe I made a slip.” Reston said he had previously designated the French, among others, as helping.
Asked, “Just what is the PLO doing?” he said, “This would take me exactly into the renowned treacherous waters in which I have no business swimming.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
