Saudis sending arms to P.L.O.

Press, 5 August 1981, Page 8

Saudis sending arms to P.L.O.

NZPA-Rcuter Washington Israel complained to the United States yesterday that Saudi Arabia waA helping Palestinian forces exploit the cease-fire. in' southern Lebanon by shipping them fresh supplies of weapons.

The Israeli Ambassador in Washington (Mr Ephraim Evronj .told the Secretary of State (Mr Alexander Haig) that Israel believed the activities violated the spirit of the cease-fire which the United States helped achieve.

The ambassador told reporters after meeting Mr Haig that the -Secretary of State had “promised to look into it."

The United States has credited the Saudis with playing a key role in arranging the Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire. Mr Evron called on Mr Haig only a short time after the two had joined the Egyptian Ambassador (Mr Ashraf

Ghorbal) in signing an agree- \ ment setting up a peace-, keeping force for the Sinai, . j;

He said Saudi Arabia had . sent the Palestinian Liberation Organisation weapons in the past, “but here we see this happening right now in a situation where we hoped there would not be rearming and resupplying." /

He said Israel had been given the understanding — not in writing — from the -.-. special United States envoy, ;j Philip Habib, that the P.L.O. 5; would not use the cease-fire to rearm for fresh attacks. ;>?.

He said he gave Mr Haig detailed information “to the J® effect that the P.L.O. is ex- ' plotting the current cessation of hostilities across the tii' Lebanon border in order to rearm, and quantities of arms have been shipped c? from Saudi Arabia." ' Mr Evron also said the g Saudis had been providing money to the P.L.O. k,’