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Leftwing Demonstrators Greet Foreign Minister Eban Oslo and Stockholm

April 9, 1968
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Israel’s Foreign Minister Abba Eban, who was the target of leftwing anti-Israel student demonstrations when he lectured at Oslo University last night, ran into more of the same when he arrived in Stockholm this morning, the second capital to be visited on his current Scandinavian tour. An anonymous tip to Stockholm police that there was a bomb on Mr. Eban’s plane turned out to be false. But when the Israeli diplomat stepped out of the plane at the airport, there were some 40 young demonstrators waiting for him, waving placards with such slogans as “El Fatah will win,” “Go Homel” “Freedom for Palestine” and “Vietnam and Palestine, Victims of Imperialism.”

Mr. Eban was greeted at the airport by Swedish Foreign Minister Torsten Nilssen who ordered the official motorcade to take a route out of the airport that avoided the demonstrators. However, the Communist-dominated leftist Student Federation has received police permission to organize a protest march to the Israel Embassy here Thursday night. Other leftwing activists were said to be preparing an illegal demonstration with a “surprise” for the Israeli Foreign Minister. Before leaving Oslo this morning, Mr. Eban said Israel was anxious for the Scandinavian foreign ministers to be well informed of Israel’s viewpoint on the Middle East situation, particularly because the Scandinavian countries have comparatively close relations with the countries of Eastern Europe. He said he hoped the Nordic countries would pass on Israel’s views to the East European states which have no diplomatic contacts with Israel. He stressed that Israel was not asking mediation or involvement on the part of the Scandinavian countries.

While Mr. Eban spoke at Oslo University, a group of about 50 youngsters unfurled anti-Israel placards outside and scuffled with police. They distributed leaflets stating, “Eshkol appeals to world Jewry to participate in building a greater Israel” and “the Norwegian Government supports Israeli aggression.” The leaflets were signed by the Social Democratic and Communist Students and the Youth Federation.

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