Prime Minister James Callaghan issued a statement yesterday saying he was very pleased at the outcome of the Air France hijacking affair. But his statement did not take the form of a message to Israel which was seen here as a demonstration that the British Labor government did not want to anger Ugandan President Idi Amin and his Arab supporters.
The government’s attitude was in sharp contrast to the reaction in the country at large and in Parliament where MP Phillip Goodhart described the rescue as “one of the greatest military exploits of all time” and “a very substantial victory against international terrorism for everybody.”
Members of Parliament have moved a motion urging the government “to congratulate the government of Israel on brilliantly and bravely confounding an act of air piracy, to condemn President Amin for aiding and arming international terrorists, and to combat terrorism both at home and abroad with equal vigor and determination.” Labor MP Greville Janner urged the government to take action against Uganda for its alleged collusion with the terrorists.
REJOICING AND THANKSGIVING
In the Jewish community, there was rejoicing and thanksgiving Sunday in sharp contrast with the prayers of intercession read in synagogues Saturday. Last night, Jewish youth movements held a big celebration in a park in northwest London, attended by a representative of the Israel Embassy.
Speaking on the BBC, Israel Ambassador Gideon Rafael said he was “proud of the precision” of the Israel armed forces operation. It was Israel’s reply to Amin’s suggestion Saturday that time was running out and that Israel had to do something he stated. Said Hammani, the PLO’s man in London, refused to speak to the BBC.
Dr. Immanuel Jakobovits, Britain’s Chief Rabbi, described the rescue as “one of the most memorable episodes of our long, blood-stained history.” when he made a special appearance Sunday at the Board of Deputies of British Jews. In an atmosphere of relief and exultation, the Chief Rabbi told communal leaders that Saturday “in our synagogues we wept and pleaded with God for his intervention and succor, now we have witnessed a great salvation.”
Lord Fisher, president of the Board, described the news of the rescue as a “tremendous, moment” and announced that telegrams of congratulations and affectionate good wishes were being sent to Israeli President Ephraim Katzir and Premier Yitzhak Rabin. Dr. S. Levenberg, Board vice-president, asked where were the UN, its Secretary General, and the Security Council while the hostages were being held in Uganda. The world stood aside, as it did during the Holocaust, he said.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
