Major Jewish Organization Tern’s Release of Terrorists by Greeks Surrender to Blackmail

The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations has criticized as a “surrender to blackmail” the release last Friday by the Greek government of seven convicted Arab terrorists. Dr. William A. Wexler, chairman of the conference and president of B’nai B’rith, said the Greek action, which came after assurances of Arab diplomats that Greek territory would hereafter be immune from terrorist activity, “has in effect directed such terrorism elsewhere.” A cable of protest was sent by the Presidents Conference to Premier George Papadopoulos of Greece.

Dr. Wexler said that “Greece’s capitulation is all the more regrettable coming at a time when nations are struggling with the growing problem of insuring the safety of international air travel and of diplomatic officials stationed in foreign lands.” The fact that Egypt’s President Gamel Abdel Nasser “welcomed the convicted murderers” at the Cairo airport “is no less disquieting for its encouragement of continued terrorist attacks,” Dr. Wexler declared. He said that Col. Nasser’s actions “reflect on the good faith with which he approaches his obligations under the Middle East cease-fire agreement,” Dr. Wexler disputed the Greek government’s assertion that “national honor” was involved in fulfilling the pledge made last month to six other terrorists who had hijacked a Greek airliner and had held its passengers and crew hostage. “The pledge was extracted at gunpoint and was without moral or legal effect,” Dr. Wexler said.