Possible ‘climax’ Soon in Efforts to Free Hijacked Plane Seen by Eban

Israel’s Foreign Minister Abba Eban expressed concern yesterday over the continued Algerian detention of the hijacked El Al airliner and the 12 Israeli passengers and crew members in his conversations here with Dr. Gunnar Jarring, the United Nations Mideast peace envoy. However, Mr. Eban did not ask Dr. Jarring to act to bring pressure on Algeria because of the approach already made by UN Secretary-General U Thant.

The Foreign Minister referred to the UN effort in a statement he made at Lydda Airport Friday before departing for London on the first leg of his visit to Africa, declaring that not all of the political possibilities for solution of the problem had been exhausted. He also said at the airport that he had an “impression” that the issue was “nearing a climax” which he said he expected might be reached within the next few days in political efforts for release of the plane and the Israelis.

(The Christian Science Monitor reported from Beirut that the envoys of Algerian President Boumedienne had informed several western governments that he would release the hijacked plane if Israel freed a few of the nearly 1,000 Arab terrorists now held by Israel.)

(Diplomatic sources in Jerusalem expressed surprise today over the acceptance by Mr. Thant of an invitation to visit Algiers in September but suggested that the acceptance might portend an early release of the hijacked airline and the Israelis. They said that the Secretary-General, who has been pressing Algeria to release the plane and the Israelis, might have accepted the invitation on the assumption that the problem would be resolved by the time of his visit.

(It was also reported in Jerusalem that Gideon Raphael, the director-general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, has been in Rome since Friday to take part in talks on release of the plane and Israelis. The plane was seized July 23 over Italian territory. Prime Minister Levi Eshkol reported to the Cabinet today on the status of the efforts to obtain release of the plane and the Israelis but no details were given nor did the Government spokesman indicate any Cabinet reaction to Mr. Thant’s scheduled visit to Algeria.)

(The American Society of Travel Agents warned in New York that the hijacking represented “a frightening escalation” in such practices and asked for international sanctions against hijacking of all carriers. The organization presented its views in an advertisement in the New York Times, headlined “Piracy In The Air: A Threat To World Travel.” The organization demanded action “to ensure the immediate release of the passengers, crew and aircraft held illegally in Algiers.”)