Arafat Decries U.S. Action

PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat on Saturday called the U.S. interception of an Egyptian plane carrying four Palestinian hijackers an “act of piracy.”

“It was an insult to (Egyptian President Hosni) Mubarak because they attacked a private aircraft that was carrying an Egyptian citizen,” Arafat told a news conference.

“It is proof that there is no security in the world for any aircraft or any government official,” Arafat said.

“It is an act of piracy just like the hijacking of the boat,” he said, referring to the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro that was hijacked by the four Palestinians last Monday in the Mediterranean with more than 500 people aboard. An American passenger, Leon Klinghoffer, was killed by the hijackers and his body dumped in the ocean.

Four U.S. F-14 fighter jets intercepted an EgyptAir Boeing 737 carrying the hijackers from Egypt late Thursday and forced it to land at a U.S.-Italian military base in Sicily early Friday morning (Italian time). The hijackers have been charged by Italy with hijacking, kidnaping, murder and possession of arms and explosives.

Arafat, ending a two-day visit here for talks with President Abdou Diouf, said the American seizure would have “grave consequences on the international situation” and would “encourage Israel to do the same” type of thing.

Arafat said the American seizure of an Egyptian plane would force force the Palestine Liberation Organization to “adopt a new strategy” in its struggle against Israel, but did not elaborate.