Israeli arms found in Argentina-bound jet

Press, 28 May 1982, Page 6

Israeli arms found in Argentina-bound jet

NZPA-Reuter Washington Israeli military equipment carried aboard an Ecuadorean cargo plane detained by United States Federal authorities in New York on Wednesday was destined for Argentina, according to a senior Reagan Administration official. The cargo, which included bombs and ammunition, was part of a "frantic world-wide effort" by Argentina to acquire munitions and spare parts for its fight against Britain for control of the Falkland Islands, he said. Venezuela and Peru, according to the official, have tried to help Argentina by acting as intermediaries in buying arms. Israel had agreed to sell munitions and

other military equipment to the Argentines, he said. In Israel, a spokesman for the Prime Minister (Mr Menachem Begin) denied that the cargo was destined for Argentina and said that Israel had concluded no arms deals with Argentina since the fighting over the Falklands began. The State Department said that it had "no information that the cargo is intended for a ultimate distination other than. Ecuador.” A spokesman later said that the statement was subject to revision if new information became available. But the senior Administration . official said that there was ‘‘no question” that the cargo, which was falsely

labelled as aircraft parts, was bound for Argentina via Ecuador.

Customs Service agents at Kennedy international airport detained the plane on Wednesday when it landed for refuelling. The flight of the Ecuadoriana Airlines Boeing 707 jet freighter originated in Tel Aviv, federal officials said, and was scheduled to continue to Quito, the Ecuadorean capital, after the refuelling stop.

The plane was detained, a federal law enforcement official said, when a routine check of the plane's manifest showed there was no licence for shipment of military equipment through the United States. A search of the plane disclosed that

crates marked as containing aircraft spare parts actually held bombs, ammunition, and other munitions. United States Federal law requires that anyone shipping military equipment through the United States must obtain a licence from the State Department. The law also requires that the contents of shipments be accurately listed in licence applications and on shipping containers.