Advertisement

Hostage’s Son Puts Faith in Efforts of U.S.

Share
Times Staff Writer

A son of David Jacobsen, the Huntington Beach hospital administrator kidnaped five weeks ago in Beirut, said Monday he believes the U.S. government has been doing all it can to secure freedom for his father and six other Americans held captive in Lebanon, some as long as 16 months.

“I was disappointed that it took so long for Reagan to comment about my dad and the other ones, but I do feel the State Department did everything they could at this point,” Eric Jacobsen said. “I don’t feel they ignored it or neglected it.”

The 28-year-old Jacobsen also said he did not feel the government had been lax in seeking the release of the seven hostages while focusing its efforts on freeing the passengers of the hijacked TWA jetliner.

Advertisement

“In the situation with those hostages, at least they had (Shia Muslim militia leader Nabih) Berri to talk to,” Jacobsen said. “He was the one they could negotiate with. As far as I know, they don’t have anyone (involved in his father’s kidnaping).”

The group Islamic Jihad originally claimed responsibility for abducting 54-year-old David Jacobsen May 28 as he walked to his office at American University Hospital, where he had served as director since last December. However, his son pointed out, the group later issued a statement denying they had carried out the kidnapping.

“It’s possible there are two separate groups,” he said. “It has never been confirmed who’s holding him.”

In Early June, a photograph was released by Islamic Jihad showing the kidnaped man was still alive.

Negotiations Not Mentioned

Jacobsen said State Department representatives have told him efforts are continuing to win freedom for his father and the others, but “they didn’t mention any specifics like negotiations.”

Relatives of the other hostages Monday voiced concerns that talk by the Reagan Administration of possible retaliations for the TWA hijacking could endanger the remaining captives.

Advertisement

The younger Jacobsen, however, was reluctant to discuss that situation because, he said, he had heard nothing official about any such actions, only what he had from the media.

“I hate to even comment,” he said. “And I hate to just speculate. I’m really sick of speculation on the part of the news media.

Sees No Reason to Comment

“I have said before that I don’t have any experience in either terrorism or politics and my opinion doesn’t carry much weight. So why should I comment on it?” he said.

Jacobsen said it had been the media that got his hopes up Sunday with reports that his father and the six other prisoners were to be released along with the TWA hostages.

“One station said that Berri had sent guards for the others, while another reported that the Red Cross was with them,” he said. “I called the State Department for confirmation and they said they had not heard anything like that. It turns out the media were completely wrong. It really disappointed me.

“From now on, I will definitely not pay any attention to what’s on TV. I’ll rely entirely on what the State Department has to say,” he said.

Advertisement
Advertisement