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ACTION NEA-10
INFO OCT-01 AF-08 ISO-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-04 H-02 INR-07
L-03 NSAE-00 NSC-05 PA-01 PRS-01 SP-02 SS-15 USIA-06
EB-07 FAA-00 IO-13 DOTE-00 SCCT-01 EUR-12 OMB-01
ACDA-07 /106 W
--------------------- 072562
R 090815Z JUL 76
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9098
INFO AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
USMISSION USUN
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE RABAT 3646
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: PORS, PFOR, IS, MO, UG
SUBJECT: GOM HITS HIJACKERS, CRITICIZES ISRAELI COMMANDO
OPERATION
1. OFFICIAL MININFO STATEMENT RELEASED JULY 1 GAVE GOM'S
VIEWS ON HIJACKING IN GENERAL, KAMPALA HIJACKING IN PARTICULAR.
FOLLOWING RELEASE AND SAFE RETURN ON JULY 1 TO CASABLANCA
OF THE COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR OF ROYAL AIR MAROC AND TWO MEMBERS OF HIS
FAMILY, WHO HAD ENPLANED IN ATHENS FOR PARIS, BENHIMA
ANATHEMATIZED AIR PIRACY BOTH BECAUSE IT THREATENED LIVES OF
INNOCENT PERSONS AND PREJUDICED WORLD OPINION AGAINST CAUSES
HIJACKERS PRETENDED TO DEFEND. THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIJACKING
WERE "ONLY DESTROYING THE IMMENSE MORAL AND POLITICAL CREDIT"
THAT THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE HAD RECENTLY SUCCEEDED IN
GAINING, STATEMENT CONCLUDED.
2. FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL ISRAELI ENTEBBE OPERATION,
ANOTHER MININFO STATEMENT DATED JULY 6 ATTACKED ISRAELI
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ACTION AS "CONTRARY TO SPIRIT OF CIVILIZATION OF OUR TIME,"
ONE WHICH "CONSTITUTES ANOTHER FORM OF PIRACY AND AN
AGGRESSION AGAINST INTEGRITY AND SOVEREIGNTY OF UGANDA."
ACT WAS COMMITTED BY ISRAELI COMMANDOS WHO SPECIALIZED
IN SUCH TYPES OF "CRIMES", STATEMENT ADDED.
3. BOTH COMMENTS WERE BURIED IN BACK PAGES OF SEMI-OFFICIAL
ORGANS, INDICATING GOM WISH TO DOWNPLAY THE EVENTS.
OPPOSITION PRESS, BOTH ISTIQLALI AND USFP, WAS MUCH
HARSHER IN ITS DENUNCIATIONS OF THE ISRAELI RECOVERY
OPERATIONS.
4. COMMENT: INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS WITH MOROCCANS AT VARIOUS
LEVELS INDICATE A DECIDED LACK OF RAPPORT WITH UGANDA ON
RESCUE OPERATION AND ADMIRATION FOR AT LEAST TECHNICAL
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ISRAELI MISSION. AT SAME TIME, GOM
CANNOT BREAK RANKS WITH OTHER ARABS AND AFRICANS AND THUS
ISSUED WHAT AMOUNTED TO PRO-FORMA DENUNCIATION
OF ISRAEL.
ANDERSON
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