Police Minister Haim Barlev revealed today that Israel had appealed to Jordan’s King Hussein both publicly and through diplomatic channels to remove terrorist headquarters from his country.
Barlev appeared to take issue on this question with Industry and Trade Minister Ariel Sharon when he added that such bases were not to be a target for Israeli military operations. Sharon had said last week that such bases should be attacked militarily. Speaking to reporters during a tour of the Jordan River and Bridges area, Barlev said;
“Jordan should be told that such bases should be removed … that they have no immunity. But a movie cowboy who threatens rarely shoots.” Jordan had shown in the past that it is fully capable of dealing with terrorists, Barlev continued. Diplomatic negotiations with Jordan were the right road toward a solution — not sabre-rattling or threats, but plain speaking.
BARLEV SEEKS’ PUBLICITY’
Deputy Foreign Minister Ronni Milo of Likud expressed surprise upon learning of Barlev’s statement, which he described as showing a lack of intention to attack terrorists. He commented that, “Whenever Sharon says one thing, Barlev has to grab publicity by saying the opposite.”
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin said today that the presence of terrorist headquarters and bases in Jordan was more dangerous than the existence of PLO camps in Beirut. King Hussein should be warned of Israel’s concern about the bases, Rabin said. He could, however, not support a demand that they be removed from Jordan as a precondition for negotiations with that country, he said.
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