The president of the British Airline Pilots Association expressed regret today that the International Federation of Airline Pilots Associations (IFALPA) declined at its meeting here yesterday to take any action against Israel over the downing of the Libyan airliner. Capt. Jack Linstead, BALPA president, said, however, that his organization would abide by the IFALPA decision.
Addressing a press conference, Capt. Linstead said “British pilots are very unhappy that they had little support at the IFALPA meeting for their request that a strong line be taken against Israel. Nothing the Israeli pilots have said changed our position that positive action was necessary if we are to prevent a repetition of the Sinai tragedy. We are annoyed that IFALPA declined to take any action.”
One participant in yesterday’s IFALPA meeting described the outcome as a triumph for Israel. Another said, however, that it was “a victory for common sense.” He said the British contingent displayed no hostility toward Israel. Capt. Linstead said BALPA recognized that IFALPA is not a punitive organization but felt, nevertheless, that some action should have been taken.
(In Geneva, the Commission on Human Rights which began its 28th session yesterday rejected a Pakistani proposal that Israel be denounced for a “massacre of innocents.” The 32-member commission refused despite pressure from Arab delegates. Action on the resolution was postponed until today.)
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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.
