Israel denied Sunday that it has imposed a naval blockade on the Lebanese port of Junieh, north of Beirut, but acknowledged that its Navy intercepted a Cypriot car ferry bound there from Larnaca Friday, in international waters, because Palestinian terrorists were believed aboard.
A report from Nicosia said the Cypriot government accused Israel of halting two car ferries Friday and has lodged a strong protest with the Israeli authorities.
Junieh, in the Christian-held area of Lebanon, is used by Lebanese Christians and other who travel abroad to avoid Beirut airport in Moslem-held West Beirut. The ferries run a daily 14-hour shuttle to Larnaca.
The 8,187-ton ferry Empress was intercepted on the high seas Friday enroute to Junieh. Its captain was ordered by a loud hailer to hand over any Palestinian terrorists and their weapons reportedly aboard. The captain refused and was ordered by the Israel Navy to return to Larnaca.
The 3,000-ton ferry Sunny Boat was also intercepted and turned back, according to Cypriot authorities who denied either vessel carried terrorists or weapons. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said the Navy acted in a “routine” manner to prevent Palestinian terrorists from returning to Lebanon. He said such operations were carried out when there was reason to believe terrorists were trying to use the sea route to re-infiltrate Lebanon.
Cyprus reported Sunday that the ferries had resumed service. The Empress carried 600 passengers to Junieh and the Sunny Boat carried 250 without incident.
On June 29, 1984, Israel Navy gunboats intercepted the Cypriot-owned Panamanian-flag car ferry Alisur Blanco on the high seas and forced it to Haifa where Israeli authorities removed nine of its 63 passengers for questioning. The vessel was released later the same day.
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.
