THE PRESS MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1985. Piracy by sea and air

Press, 14 October 1985, Page 12

THE PRESS MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1985. Piracy by sea and air

Is an act of piracy justified to bring pirates to justice? The question is being debated round the world in the wake of the American intervention in the eastern Mediterranean to bring to trial four Palestinian terrorists who hijacked the liner Achille Lauro. .Mr Yasser Arafat of the Palestine Liberation Organisation has called it “a cowboy action.” So it was. But President Reagan and his vigilantes were not necessarily doing the wrong thing when they used extreme measures to bring presumed murderers to justice. Alarm arises less from the American action itself than from some of its possible consequences. The four Palestinians were on board an Egyptian airliner which the Americans forced down in Jtaly. The hijackers surrendered on the Achille Lauro last week in the belief that they would go free. Their surrender was negotiated by the P.L.O. and the Egyptian Government, probably with the belief at the time that no harm had been done to the 400 hostages on the ship. When it was discovered that an American passenger had been killed, the Egyptian Government was angry to find it had been misled. Even so, it might be asked whether a better alternative outcome to the capture of the liner was possible. Now the Egyptians have been humiliated by the United States, they are more angry than ever. President Reagan’s action is likely to have overwhelming support in the United States. America’s might is being used in an attempt to bring to justice the murderers of an ordinary American who had the misfortune to be on holiday in the wrong place at the wrong time. Unfortunately, that is not the end of the matter. A dispute about jurisdiction — about where the Palestinians should be tried — has already arisen between the United States and Italy.

Under international law, the murder took place on an Italian ship and Italian law applies. That may not satisfy the Americans, even if they feel confident about a verdict of “guilty.” Italy does not apply the death sentence and the mood in the United States is for revenge. Wherever the trial takes place, there must be a high risk of further threats of terrorism in an attempt to gain the release of the Palestinians. If they are given long jail sentences, attempts to release them by blackmail may continue. The whole incident clouds even further any prospect of a lasting settlement in the Middle East. By not condemning the recent Israeli air strike in Tunisia, the United States soured relations with one of the more moderate Arab countries. By forcing down an Egyptian aircraft, whatever the justification, the United States sours relations with its most important Middle Eastern ally. Only Egypt, among Israel’s neighbours, has been prepared to accept a negotiated settlement. Egypt remains critically important in persuading other of Israel’s enemies to negotiate. Now, if the Egyptians are to retain credibility in the Arab world, they dare not be seen to continue their close relationship with the Americans, whatever the Egyptians’ private feelings about the seizure of the Achille Lauro and the ambiguous part played by the P.L.O. Not since the Israelis rescued the hostages from Entebbe nine years ago has a hijacking been met with such a dramatic response. Terrorists make war on innocent people. The United States has escalated the war against terrorism. It has served notice that hijackers cannot be sure of finding safety anywhere. That message will have widespread support; the full price to be paid for such a policy has still to be established.