Shamir Policy Cited in Hostage Rescue Killings

The former head of Israel’s top-secret intelligence service said Likud party leader Yitzhak Shamir authorized his agency to kill terrorists in hostage rescue operations, a government official said today.

The former chief of Shin Bet, Avraham Shalom, made the disclosure at a meeting of ministers from Prime Minister Shimon Peres’ Labor Party on Saturday, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

It was the first time since the controversy arose over the deaths of two Palestinian hijackers that Israeli officials acknowledged such a blanket authorization existed.

Former Shin Bet officials have accused Shalom of ordering the killings of the two Palestinians, who had been taken into custody after a bus hijacking in April, 1984. The officials also accused Shalom of covering up the beating deaths before two commissions of inquiry.

News reports alleged that Shamir, prime minister at the time, authorized the cover-up. Shamir has denied any wrongdoing, and the daily Haaretz reported that his aides said he did not authorize the killings.

Last week, Shalom was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for his resignation. The Israeli Supreme Court is holding hearings on five petitions challenging the legality of the pardon.