Pro-israel Members of Parliament Assail Air Carriers for Suspending Cargo Service

The President of the British Board of Trade said in the House of Commons today that British airlines “expect to resume the normal carriage of cargo to Israel as soon as they are satisfied that all proper safeguards have been taken.” The two main British air carriers, BOAC and British European Airways (BEA) have come under fire from pro-Israel MPs and others for suspending air cargo and mail services to Israel following the fatal crash of the Israeli-bound Swiss air Jet. Roy Mason, speaking for the Board of Trade, defended the airlines’ action. He said the Government had no power to issue a specific directive to an airline and noted that passenger services to Israel were continuing normally.

Eric Lubbock, a Liberal MP, claimed that the BOAC and BEA suspensions meant that “piracy and terrorism were paying off.” Emanuel Shinwell, a Labor MP criticized the Government for failing to denounce “this murderous crime” although it had condemned an Israeli bombing raid on an Egyptian metal factory two weeks ago. He wondered why only air service to Israel was restricted and not the Arab countries. Mr. Mason replied that only aircraft going to Israel were in jeopardy. Dr. Horace King, Speaker of the House, refused an application from Mr. Shinwell to hold an emergency debate on the suspension of cargo and mail service to Israel.

The problem of terrorist assaults on civilian aircraft arising from the Middle East conflict was discussed also at a Cabinet meeting at No. 10 Downing St. today. A spokesman for the International Federation of Airline Pilots Associations (IFALPA) told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency yesterday that the new rash of terrorist attacks on airliners and their passengers could lead to a general strike of pilots unless prompt and effective measures are taken to end them.

The Israel Embassy here said that no replies have been received so far to Ambassador Aharon Remez’s telegrams to the chairmen of BOAC and BEA urging them to rescind their ban on mail and cargo service to Israel. The Ambassador described the ban as “submission to terror.” Representatives of 53 British and foreign airlines that use Heathrow (London) Airport met today on the problem of air sabotage and arranged to meet again tomorrow. No decision was reached on the ban or on new safety measures it was learned. The IFALPA spokesman told JTA that the matter of combating terrorist attacks on civilian airliners would be the main item on the organization’s agenda when it meets here March 11-18. The British Zionist Federation issued a statement denouncing the Swiss air sabotage and aerial terrorism generally. Chief Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits said yesterday, “Such brutal disregard for the sanctity of human life can only be stopped by immediate and concerted action.”