Israel has asked Britain, Holland, the United Nations and the International Red Cross to intercede in connection with the detention by Iraq of three Israeli nationals taken off a British plane when it made a forced landing on Iraqi territory a month ago, it was announced today.
Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett, speaking in the Knesset, denounced the incident as an “International scandal” and said it was “actually kidnapping.” He pointed out that the Iraqi action was in sharp contradiction to Israel’s practice of releasing Iraqi citizens who happened to be stranded in Israel.
Israel expected action from Britain, particularly, Mr. Sharett added, because the plane involved in the incident was British, because its captain acquiesced in the Iraqi action in removing the Israelis from the plane and because the plane was immediately released upon strong pressure from the British Embassy which apparently insisted, at the same time, on the release of all the passengers.
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