Israelis Held By Algeria

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31740, 25 July 1968, Page 11

Israelis Held By Algeria

(N.Z P A. Reuter—Copyright)

ALGIERS, July 24.

Twenty-two Israelis, hijacked aboard a homebound plane today faced the possibility of prolonged detention in Algeria.

They are 12 passengers and 10 crew of the El Al Boeing 707 jet diverted to Algiers yesterday by Palestinian gunmen on a night flight from Rome to Tel Aviv.

The Israelis, including air hostesses and young women passengers, were left behind when 23 non-Israeli nationals on board the hijacked plane flew back to Europe after being taken on a sightseeing trip round Algiers. Algerian authorities have so far given no clue as to their intentions for the detained Israelis.

Nor has there been any indication of what is in store for the three Palestinian hijackers. The Italian Embassy in Algiers was still awaiting instructions from Rome last night, after Israel’s reported request for Italian intervention on behalf of the detained Israeli nationals and the aircraft.

Observers feel Algeria Is unlikely to have had foreknowledge of the Palestinian hijack plans. An Arab commando organisation, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, announced in Beirut yesterday it was solely responsible for the hijacking. It called on Algeria to hold the jet and the Israelis as hostages for Palestine commandos detained by Israel. In Geneva, the International Air Transport Association (1.A.T.A.) last night called on governments to take strong measures against aircraft hijackers. The I.A.T.A. directorgeneral (Mr Knut Hammarskjold) said in a statement: “An effective measure to put an end to these illegal acts, against which there seem to be no adequate protection at present, is for governments either unilaterally or by concerted action to make it clear that hijacking is not worth while.”