The State Department sharply condemned today a statement by Premier Sidky of Egypt lauding the Lydda Airport massacre last week and a formal protest has been sent to the Egyptian government. Department spokesman Charles Bray said the televised remarks by Sidky in Cairo last Thursday were “irresponsible and incomprehensible.” President Nixon sent a personal message of condolence to Premier Golda Meir which was released by the Prime Minister’s office in Jerusalem. The President wrote, “The ugly violence and bloodshed inflicted upon innocent men, women and children by terrorists at the Tel Aviv Airport is a tragedy of profound and shocking proportions. No political cause of ideological gain can possibly excuse the indiscriminate murder of unarmed human beings.”
The President continued, “I am certain all Americans join with me in condemning this senseless act and in expressing heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of the victims. In our grief, may we and people of good will in the world find urgent cause to re-affirm our commitment to seek an end to the use of force and violence so that such deeds may be banished from human society.”
Bray said, “For the head of any government to endorse such a senseless incident which resulted in the death of so many people–almost a slaughter, of the innocent–of whom 16 were Americans, is Irresponsible and incomprehensible.” Sidky boasted that “only three persons with machineguns did what was done at Lod (Lydda) Airport. This incident indicates that we are capable, with God’s help, of achieving victory in our battle against Israel.” Bray’s comment followed a meeting at the State Department between Alfred L. Atherton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Middle East and Yousef Sharari, chief representative of the Egyptian government in Washington. Atherton voiced the US government’s protest and asked Sharari to convey it to Cairo. Sharari was summoned to Atherton’s office at the State Department’s initiative.
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