Great Britain is intervening with Israel on behalf of two high ranking Algerian nationals who were removed from a BOAC airliner in transit at Lydda Airport Friday and are under detention. British Ambassador John Barnes called on Foreign Minister Abba Eban at the former’s request today to discuss the matter. It was reportedly the second approach by Britain in the case. Government secretary Michael Arnon reported that the subject of the Algerians was raised at today’s Cabinet meeting, “one of the ministers asked a question about and was given an answer,” was all that Mr. Arnon would say. Meanwhile, opinion was divided in the country over whether to release the Algerians or hold them as hostages for Israeli prisoners in Arab hands. Israelis recalled that Just two years ago an El Al airliner was hijacked to Algeria and all of its Israeli male passengers and crew members were detained for 39 days until Israel agreed to release a number of Arab prisoners. The two Algerians were identified as Maj Khatib Jaloul, Secretary of the Algerian Government and a close associate of President Boumediene, and All Bel Aziz, a senior ministerial secretary. They were removed from a BOAC airliner en route from the Far East to Europe. Maj. Jaloul’s wife was permitted to continue her journey.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
