Israel was disclosed here today to have protested to the West German government against a meeting last week between Peter Corterier, the West German Vice Foreign Minister, and the representative in Bonn of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Abdullah Frangi.
But a West German government spokesman said that while the Corterier-Frangi meeting took place in the Foreign Ministry office, it did not constitute a change of West German policy or represent an official recognition by Bonn of the PLO.
Meanwhile, Frangi and a PLO spokesman on a visit here were given an enthusiastic reception last Saturday by members of the Bundestag, representing various parties. Media reports and commentaries on the state-run television networks reflected a general mood of satisfaction over Israel’s “involvement” in the Beirut massacre.
“Our victims behave very much like we did,” a young German said in a television interview. A leading church leader commented “our victims produce yet more victims.” However, the West German government dissociated itself today from allegations by Frangi that Israeli soldiers in Lebanese uniform carried out the massacre in Beirut. A government spokesman said the government had no evidence whatever to substantiate such a charge.
ARAFAT MAY VISIT BONN
Last week, the West German government published a very strong condemnation of Israel over the Palestinian massacre in Beirut and called for an independent investigation of the killings. At the same time, the government left open the possibility of inviting PLO chief Yosir Arafat to come to Bonn for talks with government officials.
Several thousand demonstrators protested today in Bonn against the massacre in two Beirut refugee camps and warmly applauded Frangi when he equated Israel with the Nazis. Many of the demonstrators were members of the Young Guard of Chancellor Helmut Schmidt’s Social Democratic Party. The Young Guard is known for its anti-Israel attitude.
The visit by Frangi to Corterier was arranged on the basis of instructions last Friday by Schmidt to his aides to arrange the visit. Observers said this was the first time Franji had received an official reception and it was made known immediately to the West German media.
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.
