Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir charged today that Libya is purchasing arms for Palestinian terrorists in southern Lebanon and therefore bears responsibility for the “explosive” situation there.
Shamir addressed a visiting group of West German Bundestag members, headed by Enders Wendelin of the ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD). They are members of the German-Israel Friendship Association on a study tour of Israel. He told them the reason for Israel’s concern with south Lebanon was the presence of some 20,000 armed terrorists in close proximity to its border. But he stressed that Israel’s basic policy remains, “We will not attack it we are not attacked.”
Shamir warned, however, that build-up of Palestinian forces in Lebanon “makes the situation explosive and it could blow up at any time.” Referring to Austrian media reports that Col. Muammar Gaddafi had indicated during his visit to Vienna last week that he is prepared to envisage a Middle East peace that would affirm Israel as a permanent entity in the region, Shamir cautioned the German visitors to judge the Libyan strongman by his deeds, not his words.
He noted that Qaddafi’s public statements are abundant and often contradictory. What should matter is not what he says but rather his actions in financing and aiding terrorism around the world, Shamir said. He said Israel has positive knowledge of Libya’s financial aid to the Palestine Liberation Organization in Lebanon.
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