Knesset Warns Israel Will Take ’emphatic Measures’ Against Arab Air Terrorists

The Knesset issued a stiff warning today that Israel would take “emphatic measures” against aerial terrorists and Arab countries sheltering them. It demanded that all governments and international organizations join to put an end to the kind of terrorism that took 47 lives in the crash of a Swiss air jet Saturday and is “aimed at destroying civil aviation.” Eight Americans and 16 Israelis were among the victims. The Knesset’s resolution and a statement by Premier Golda Meir that preceded it will be distributed by Israeli diplomatic missions to governments all over the world. The Government is also planning to call an international conference of airlines and air transport groups serving the Middle East to discuss ways of insuring the safety of passengers and aircraft against terrorist assaults.

The Knesset did not specify what measures might be taken. But Mrs. Meir could barely contain her emotions when she demanded rigid steps by the world community “to check the outrageous activities, the uncontrolled and mean activities, of the Arab saboteurs.” The 72 year-old Premier sharply admonished international airlines and governments for not taking steps to curb Arab air terrorists when they committed their first act in 1968, the hijacking of an El Al airliner to Algiers. Mrs. Meir contended that if firm action had been taken then, “we would not have reached the deterioration which culminated in the present situation.” She said that Israel “would not accept the situation.” “When the air routes to Israel are undermined, Israel will do everything in its power to defend them,” she said.

At the same time Israel denounced the actions of at least 12 international airlines which suspended cargo and mail flights to Israel in the aftermath of the Swiss airliner’s crash, which exploded in midair shortly after leaving Zurich’s Kloten airport. Earlier, the Cabinet wound up a day-long session on the Swiss air disaster with a call to governments, airlines and international pilots organizations to stop the “running amok” of Arab terrorists throughout the world.

ARAB TERROR GROUP FIRST CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR TRAGEDY, THEN DENIES IT

Within hours after the Swiss air jet crashed, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed that its agents blew up the plane because “high ranking Israeli officials” were aboard. But the so-called unified command of ten Arab guerrilla groups went on Amman radio shortly afterwards to disclaim responsibility as expressions of shock and outrage poured in from all over the world. Israelis and most officials abroad tended to put more credence in the original boast than in the disclaimer. They noted that Arab terrorists have been attacking and seizing Israeli and other Israel-bound airliners ever since May, 1968 when an EI Al jet was hijacked to Algiers.

Mrs. Meir referred to that incident in her statement released last night by acting Cabinet secretary Michael Nir. She said “the terrorist organizations, through their criminal acts, have removed themselves beyond the bounds of morality and civilized society.” “Terrorist acts against planes and travellers to Israel began in 1968 when an El Al plane was hijacked to Algeria,” Mrs. Meir said. “It has continued in mounting bloodshed and destruction. Not only Israelis and Israeli planes but international planes and airports and citizens of all the world have been victims, But while the terrorist acts have shocked humanity, the international community to date has not yet adopted suitable means to combat the mounting attacks on civil aviation,” Mrs. Meir said.

Israeli officials were bitter over the swift suspension of mail and cargo flights to Israel by foreign airlines. They said such actions were “playing into the hands” of terrorists and could only encourage them to commit new outrages. British Overseas Airways and British European Airways were among the first to announce temporary suspension of mail and cargo service to Tel Aviv. Scandinavian Airlines followed suit and cancelled its weekly Copenhagen-Tel Aviv passenger flight as well. Other airlines which Imposed 48 hour bans on freight service to Israel included Swiss air, Air France, Austrian Airlines and Royal Dutch Airlines. Spokesmen for several of the airlines indicated that the measures were temporary pending the establishment of tighter security arrangements. Passenger flights were generally unaffected because passengers and their baggage can be screened for weapons and explosives, but not cargo and mail bags. An Austrian Airliner carrying mall to Israel was rocked by a mid-air explosion Saturday shortly before the Swiss air jet crashed. But the Austrian plane landed safely at Frankfurt. West Germany posted a $4000 reward for the capture of two men, presumably Arabs who mailed a parcel containing explosives aboard the air liner.

(In Geneva today, Swiss Government officials said an Investigation was under way to determine whether the “presumption of an act of criminal sabotage” was borne out by evidence found in the wreckage of the Swiss air jet. The names of the American victims were given. They were: Thomas Lingefelter, of Huntington, Long Island; Melville Meyerson, of Stamford, Conn; Mr. and Mrs. S. Silvershots, of Chula Vista, California; Dr. and Mrs. Glenn Ware, of Barrington Hills, HI.; and Dr. and Mrs. Weinermann, of Hamden, Conn.)