Resolutions Mount in Congress Urging International Action Against Skyjackers

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has under consideration today its second resolution in less than a week asking Presidential action to reach international agreements to combat skyjacking and terrorism against air travellers such as the massacre at Israel’s Lydda Airport May 30. The latest measure, introduced yesterday by Sen. Charles Percy (R. 111.), asks both houses of Congress to advise the President to undertake negotiations for such agreements “at the earliest practicable date” with the governments of “all countries” having international airports.

A bi-partisan resolution asking the President to call a world conference to consider policing aircraft and airports and more thorough searches of passengers was introduced by Sen. Abraham Ribicoff (D. Conn.) June 14. The House Foreign Affairs Committee has a half dozen resolutions with a similar objective, sponsored by as many representatives. The measure with the widest support so far was introduced June 8 by Rep. Herman Badillo (D.N.Y.). It has 30 co-sponsors. But no hearings are scheduled by either the House or Senate committees. Aides in both chambers said today that they understood State Department views were being awaited on the entire range of issues caused by air terrorism.

Sen. Percy referred to the killings at Lydda Airport when he presented his resolution. “No claim that this was a political act in the continuing war against the State of Israel can hide the ugly fact that what occurred was the murder of innocents,” he said. “International society simply cannot allow itself to remain defenseless against criminals who seem bound and determined to use every available opportunity to commit their outrageous acts at crowded airports.” he said.