The U.S. government today condemned the “savage attack” on El Al passengers last night and the hijacking of the Air France plane to Uganda and hoped it would “prod leaders of the world into taking positive action on the question of terrorism.” In a statement read to the press, the Department declared, further: “This is an issue that must be addressed in the United Nations and is a matter of greatest urgency. It is fortunate indeed that the aircraft was not seized and still greater tragedy did not take place.”
The Department statement added that “We profoundly lament the death of Harold Rosenthal, the aide to Sen. Jacob K. Javits (R.NY) who was killed in the attack by the terrorists, and extended “deep sympathy” to his family. A Department spokesman said that the United States will be lending full support to the plan to combat terrorism being initiated by West Germany and that it would also back any plan for that purpose.
(At the United Nations, Secretary General Kurt Waldheim today condemned the terrorist attack and said he also “deplores the loss of life and injuries which have been caused to innocent persons.”)
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