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Arafat Reported Opposed to Skyjackings; Warns Terrorist Extremists to Stop

October 12, 1970
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According to reports released here from Beirut, Yassir Arafat, leader of El Fatah, reportedly told Palestinian extremists there must be no more skyjackings of Western airliners and there was no room for this in his strategy. Arafat said the Palestinian cause would be seriously damaged in world opinion by further attempts. His warning comes at a time when the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is said to be making plans to force Israel to release prisoners. A PFLP spokesman in Beirut said another skyjack could be carried out “without any difficulty.” Correspondents in Beirut report the civil war in Jordan brought extremist guerrilla groups nearer to El Fatah and there are even reports from Jordan that a single Palestinian army is being planned under Arafat’s leadership. It is said this may soon be agreed between Arafat and Dr. George Habash, leader of PFLP and that the new force will be called the Peoples Army.

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