Official quarters reported here today that measures to obtain the release of two Israeli nationals held by Syria since their TWA airliner was hijacked to Damascus Aug. 29 were discussed by Premier Golda Meir and U.S. Secretary of State William P. Rogers.
According to the report, Mr. Rogers assured her that energetic action will be taken to ensure the release of the detainees at an early date. Mr. Rogers also reportedly told Mrs. Meir that there has been no change in the basic Soviet position on the Middle East.
Jerusalem newspapers reported that Israeli officials are thinking of setting a deadline for conclusion of diplomatic efforts to free the pair. There are “other means at Israel’s disposal” that might be used to liberate them if they are not freed by a certain date, the papers said. The Foreign Ministry denied that any deadline was under study.
(At the United Nations today, Dutch Foreign Minister J.M.A.H. Luns told the General Assembly his Government would ask that an urgent item dealing with hijacking be put on the agenda. He said the UN should recommend measures for the safety of air traffic and the lives of passengers. Mr. Luns said steps should also he taken to prevent hijackers from going free.)
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
