The United Nations continued today to be a focus of efforts by Israel to obtain the release from Algeria of the Israeli passengers, crew and El Al airliner hijacked Tuesday by Palestinian Arabs. Israel UN Ambassador Yosef Tekoah conferred on the problem today with Dr. Ralph Bunche, Undersecretary-General for Special Political Affairs, who is acting on behalf of vacationing Secretary-General U Thant. The latter is being kept informed of developments on the hijack question, an Israeli source said today. It was reported that Mr. Thant believes that all the UN resources have not yet been exhausted in helping to get the airplane back.
The Israeli source said that Mr. Bunche, as well as members of the Security Council, expressed concern that the hijack episode may cause a setback to Middle East peace-seeking efforts. Dr. Bunche reportedly expressed concern that Israel might call a Security Council meeting on the hijacking issue and that the consequences of the meeting might adversely affect the peace mission of UN special envoy Dr. Gunnar V. Jarring, who is continuing his mission at UN headquarters.
Dr. Bunche is also keeping in constant contact with the Algerian mission, headed by Ambassador Tewfik Bouattoura, who is this month’s Security Council president. When Dr. Bunche and Mr. Bouattoura conferred yesterday, the Algerian reportedly delivered a statement which Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelaziz Bouteflika made in Paris yesterday.
“It is normal that Algeria wait to determine the ins and outs of this affair before defining Its position. Algeria is a sovereign nation and respects international morality. It is this morality which will write an end to this affair,” Mr. Bouattoura reportedly said, denying that Algeria was involved in diverting the flight.
The Israeli source said that Mr. Thant believes that every day that passes without a solution of the hijacking affair worsens the situation. While conferring with Dr. Bunche, Mr. Tekoah also expressed Israel’s concern about the situation in Biafra, conveying to him information about a Knesset resolution, passed Wednesday, urging international action to end the suffering of the Biafrans. Mr. Tekoah suggested that Mr. Thant convene the heads of appropriate UN agencies and functioning committees to help aid the Biafrans. Mr. Tekoah told Dr. Buncho that Israel’s interest in the starving Biafrans — whose plight stems from the civil war with Nigeria – is a matter of “humanitarian” concern in Israel especially in light of Israel’s experience with genocide during World War II.
There have been no changes in this week’s El Al’s timetable of flights despite the airline’s loss of one of Its key planes, an El Al spokesman told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in Israel today. According to the spokesman, it’s “business as usual.” There have been no noticeable cancellations and the Israel airline is using chartered planes to cope with its “highest ever” volume of traffic to and from Israel, the official stated.
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