Shamir Blames Cover-Up Crisis on ‘Politics’

Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir, under fire for allegedly approving the killings of two Palestinian bus hijackers, accused those pressing for an investigation of being politically motivated and ignoring national security.

Shamir, the leader of the right-wing Likud bloc in the coalition Cabinet, said in remarks broadcast today that he was “not tied to this affair.”

But he continued to argue that national security prevented him from giving a detailed response about his role and an alleged cover-up.

The 10-minister defense committee of the Cabinet met today to discuss a Supreme Court order that the government show cause why it should not start an inquiry into the killings and allegations of a cover-up. A government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he did not know what had been decided at the closed-door meeting.

Two hijackers were captured when troops stormed a commandeered bus to release hostages in April, 1984, and investigations later determined they were beaten to death after being interrogated.

Politicians aligned with Prime Minister Shimon Peres’ Labor Party have accused Shamir of knowing about the killings. The head of the Shin Bet, Avraham Shalom, has said in a court document that his actions were fully authorized.

In remarks made in a speech Tuesday night in northern Israel and broadcast on Israeli radio stations today, Shamir said there had been a breakdown in the handling of the case but was adamant that national security prevented full public disclosure.

“There was some sort of breakdown, but where do breakdowns not occur? And so they say let’s investigate, let’s get everything into the open, let’s put people in jail, let’s destroy the organization, let’s stay without security, never mind, as long as the law is kept. Who wants law without security?” Shamir said.