ISRAELIS SET TO RELEASE 300; U.S. OPENS DIPLOMATIC DRIVE TO 'ISOLATE' BEIRUT AIRPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000403960009-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 22, 2010
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: July 2, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/22 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000403960009-2
A, .Z APPEARED
ON PAGE___-
NEW YORK TIMES
2 July 1985
ISRAELIS SET TO RELEASE 300;
U.S. OPENS DIPLOMATIC DMIVE
TO 7SOLATE?'BE/RUTA/RPORT
By BERNARD GWERTZMAN
Spsdal to me New York Ttaoae
WASHINGTON, July 1- The United
States announced today that in re-
sponse to the hijacking of a Trans
World Airlines plane last month by
Lebanese Shiite fundamentalists, it
was beginning a diplomatic campaign
"to isolate" Beirut International Air-
port-
There was no sign that any immedi-
ate military action would be taken:
Reagan Administration officials said
they were holding in reserve several
military options In response to the hi-
jacking, but that diplomacy would be
pursued first. [Page A6.]
Meeting at White House
After a meeting at the White House of
President Reagan and members of the
National Security Council, a senior
State Department official said Mr.
Reagan had decided, as- a first step, to
end air service to the United States by
Lebanon's two air carriers, Middle
East Airlines and Trans Mediterra-
nean Airways, a cargo carrier.
Secretary of State George P Shultz
said tonight that "the purpose is to
place off limits internationally that air-
port until the people of Beirut place ter-
rorists off limits."
In an interview on the Public Broad-
casting Service program "The Mac-
Neil-Lehrer Newshour," Mr. Shultz
said the united States had identified
the two men who hijacked the plane on
June 14 and killed a Navy diver, Robert
Dean Stethem. He said the Justice De-
partment would discuss the matter
with Lebanese officials.
Mr. Shultz said the hijackers would
be brought ..to justice, directly in Bei-
rut or, if they wish, in other ways."
Asked about the prospects of appre-
hending the hijackers, Mr. Shultz said
the case would be a "test" of Lebanon's
desire to restore itself "to civilized
society."
Terry Eastlgnd, a Justice Depart-
ment spokesman, refused to comment
on the department's action on the mat-
ter.
Indictment Possit Is Syrian Assistance Sought
Legal experts said th : h ;acke Another reason not to take military
could be indicted in the United S action now, officials said, is a hope that
for committing crimes aboard a Uni Syria, which used its influence to help
States aircraft overseas. A 1964 F free the 39 hostages, will be able to se-
eral criminal law, for example, m cure the release of seven other Amer-
it a crime to hold United States na icans who are officially listed as miss-
als hostage anywhere in the world. ing or kidnapped in Lebanon.
The main problem would be g Mr. Reagan, who has had several ex-
custody of the hijackers to put them on changes with President Hafez al-Assad
trial. International agreements could of Syria in recent months, telephoned
be cited by the United States in de- him today to thank him for his efforts
mending that Lebanon put the hijack- on behalf of tb-- American hostages
ers on trial there or extradite them to who were freed on Sunday and to urge
the United States, even though the him to continuegeeking the freedom of
countries have no extradition treaty.. the other seven, tan Administration offi-
Any effort by the united States to cial said.
'seize the hijackers by force without In discussing the efforts to close Bei
Lebanon's consent to bring them to the rut's airport, the senior official said,
United States for trial, or to kill them, "We are discussing with other gavern-
could violate international law and ments the termination of all air trans-
raise other legal problems, the exl its port to and from Lebanon and to termi-
said. ' nate landing rights for any nation
Action on Air Carriers whose airlines continue to fly to Leba-
e-
The senior State Department official
said no American carriers would be al-
lowed to fly to Beirut and that other na-
tions would be asked to follow suit and
bar Lebanon's airlines from their air-
ports as well. He said an international
agreement would be sought that would
deny landing rights in participating
countries to any nation extending such
rights to Lebanon's airlines.
Other Administration officials said
'the ..primary emphasis in coming
month would be on increased interna-
tional.codperation in such areas as in-
telligence sharing and air security.
Further actions will await the return
on Thursday of Vice President Bush,
who has been in Europe discussing in-
ternational cooperation in fighting ter-
rorism.
Administration officials have been
asked repeatedly in the last two day
about possible American retaliation for
the hijacking, for the holding of the
American hostages for 17 days by a Shi-
ite militia and for the slaying of the
Navy diver.The Administration insists
that it made no promises in order to se-
cure the Americans' release, and that
in particular it has not ruled out mili-
tary retaliation.
On the other hand, Administration of-
ficials have pointed out that military
action would be difficult because they
are not sure where the original hijack-
ers are. The senior official said today
that recent reports asserting that
e can intelligence ad ruin intor-
A ation on t e hijackers was erroneous.
non." He said there had been no pr
liminary discussion so far with others,
and he declined to predict their reac-
tion.
Mr. Shultz had signaled this action on
Sunday, after the 39 hostages from the
T.W.A. plane had been freed, when he
said at a news conference that "Leba-
non, and Beirut airport, has drama-
tized itself as an outcast by its actions
in the world community."
He said 15 percent of all international
hijackings outside the United States
over be last 15 years "have either
originated, ended or gone through the
Beirut airport."
"The Beirut airport has become a
kind of safe haven to terrorists," Mr.
Shultz said. "And certainly it's one of
the things that we, and other countries,
must consider. As long as Beirut is a
haven for terrorists, it should not be a
place frequented by the world com-
munity.
"We are going to be in touch with our
friends about the airport," he said.
"We hope to develop a concerted pat-
tern of action. At any rate, we have a
very clear view about that airport, and'
I've expressed it here."
In its official statement, the Stare,
Department said: "The United States
is taking legal action and diplomatic,
steps to isolate Beirut International!
Airport and to encourage other governi ments to take similar steps."
The announcement bythe State De-
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/22 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000403960009-2