Minister of Justice Yaacov Shimshon Shapiro said today that Israel would respond to the Arab terrorist attack on El Al passengers at Munich Airport Tuesday and that the response would be made “not in words.” Mr. Shapiro made his remark after the Knesset passed to committee a new draft bill aimed at punishing persons who harm Israeli lives and property abroad or the lives and property of persons overseas having commercial ties with Israel. The measure was introduced several months ago by Shmuel Tamir of the Free Center faction. The Knesset moved to act on it following the Munich attack in which one Israeli was killed and 23 other persons were injured.
(In Washington the president of El Al called today for international action to halt hijacking and air piracy such as the terrorist attack in Munich Tuesday and called for imposition of capital punishment in these cases. Mordechai Ben Ari, El Al president told a press conference here that it was responsibility of governments and aviation authorities to take the necessary measures to protect civilian aviation from attack. He said that El Al had taken precautionary measures in conjunction with the Israeli government and other governments but declined to specify the nature of the safeguards. He also called for international legislation requiring the extradition of those charged with hijacking or other interference with civilian aviation.)
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