Israeli Premier Yitzhak Rabin expressed pessimism yesterday that the United Nations would take positive action to end international hijacking because of parliamentary squabbling in the world body. Instead, Rabin, who was interviewed on CBS-TV “Face the Nation,” called on the United States to form a pact with other nations outside the UN to strengthen airline and airport security and to cooperate against countries which participate in hijackings or provide safe havens for hijackers.
Discussing Israel’s rescue operation at Entebbe Airport in Uganda, the Premier said he believed that this operation might usher in a new anti-terrorist era. He said he knew the mission entailed risks but felt “there were good chances the operation would succeed and once it would succeed I knew it might be a new era in Israel and the Middle East and the world in regard to terror.”
Rabin reiterated the view that Ugandan President Idi Amin was “a partner in the hijacking.” He said that “when the plane (Air France air bus) landed there (Uganda) everything was ready to accept the plane, to prepare the place for the hostages, to prepare the Uganda military people to guard the hostages, to give all the support for the terrorists.”
The Premier said he did not know the whereabouts of Mrs. Dora Bloch, the 75-year-old hostage who was in a Kampala hospital when the rescue operation took place. But Rabin said he held Amin responsible for her safety.
On the prospects for an overall Mideast peace, Rabin said there might be a new U.S. initiative after the American presidential election in November. “I believe that then we will see another attempt to move the political process,” he said. “I hope that every opportunity will be taken even before the elections, but no doubt after the elections there will be a new impetus. I hope the efforts will be successful. I would not say that if they fail, immediately the consequences must be another war.” Rabin noted that the road to a Mideast peace would be long.
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