The Israeli government expressed “astonishment and disappointment” today at West German’s release of the three Munich Olympic terrorists to Arab guerrillas who threatened to blow up a German airliner with 20 other persons aboard. Foreign Minister Abba Eban asked for an explanation from Bonn.
Eban told the German ambassador, Jesco von Puttkamer, Bonn’s “surrender” to the Arab guerrillas “constitutes a weakening of the international stand against terror.”
Israeli newspapers called Bonn’s compliance with the hijackers’ demands shameful, dangerous and disgraceful.
But a West German spokesman said Chancellor Willy Brandt’s government felt the Israeli reproaches were “absolutely unjustified.”
The Lufthansa 727 jet was expected in Frankfurt today after delivering the three freed terrorists and the two hijackers to Tripoli, the Libyan capital. The 13 other passengers and seven crew members were reported unharmed.
This continues the Appeal’s review of news stories and headlines during its Sesquicentennial year.
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