Tucson Citizen · Tucson, Arizona · 31 May 1990

CP-1990-005

Cut PLO contact, Israel urges U.S.

Calls attack proof Arafat broke his word

The Associated Press, Jerusalem

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Transcribed from the clipping

“JERUSALEM — Israel today urged the United States to end all contacts with the PLO after seaborne Palestinian guerrillas loyal to a top PLO official tried to attack crowded beaches and hotels on a Jewish holiday. Four guerrillas were killed and 12 captured by Israeli forces in yesterday’s Libyan-sponsored infiltration.

No Israelis were harmed in the attack, even though tens of thousands were on beaches for Shavuot, the Jewish holiday that marks the giving of the Ten Commandments. The Palestine Liberation Front, headed by Mohammed Abbas, claimed responsibility. Abbas, known as Abul Abbas, is a member of the PLO Executive Committee and loyal to PLO chief Yasser Arafat.

He planned the 1985 hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro. Israel radio said today the government had sent Washington details of the interrogations of the 12 captured PLO guerrillas. Israeli leaders called yesterday’s attack proof that Arafat had violated his December 1988 pledge to renounce terror.

It was Arafat’s pledge that led the United States to open a dialogue with the PLO. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Motti Amihai claimed today that Abbas and Arafat met in Tunis, Tunisia, five days before the attack. ‘We believe that Abul Abbas at that time knew for sure that this operation was going to take place,’ Amihai said.

‘I think there is little doubt that Arafat personally, and also probably (Libyan leader Moammar) Ghadafi, knew beforehand about this operation.’ The PLO is an umbrella group for several factions. The smaller groups sometimes fight among themselves or launch independent attacks on Israel.

Foreign Minister Moshe Arens said Israel would try to persuade the United States to abandon contacts with the PLO. ‘If we can convince them there that the basic assumption for dialogue no longer exists, then it’s possible that the United States will decide to cease the dialogue,’ he said on Israel radio.

‘The only question is whether they (the Americans) will see reality as it is,’ said Deputy Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In Washington, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Margaret Tutwiler said it was too early to say whether the attack would affect the 17-month dialogue, but added that ‘we would view this as a very serious matter.’

She said the United States was ‘horrified at this terrorist attack’ and was ‘pleased that all terrorists were apprehended or killed in action.’”

Context added by this archive

The attack that ended the American dialogue with the PLO, reported the day after. The paper notes in its own voice that no Israelis were harmed.

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