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GV Israeli Embassy in Paris
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CV Road sign
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Name plaque
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Interviewer questions Mr Perrez (Transport Minister)
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Initials LN/PW/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Israeli Transport and Communications Minister, Mr Simon Perrez, spoke to the press in Paris on Monday (September 7) about Sunday's hijacking of an El Al airliner bound for New York.

He said he was convinced the Jewish people would find the counter measures to save their lives at this stage the situation was not clear.

Mr Perrez is in Paris to represent Israel at Tuesday's funeral service for the late General Pierre Koenig.

The Israeli Transport Minister said that the hijacking of the El Al air-liner would not affect his government's attitude towards the Arab-Israeli conflict or the Middle East peace talks now deadlocked in New york.

Mr Perrez told the press that the Israeli government has so far refused to negotiate with the commandos. He said he believed that they would negotiate with no such organisation in the future.

Israel, he said, held the Arab governments and states responsible for the commando activities.

Mr Perrez called for concerted international action to end the hijacking menace, and said that the threat of hijacking airliners, like sea piracy of old, could be met through international and technical co-operation.

Speaking of reprisals, Mr Perrez said that as the case was limited to one airplane the Israeli government considered the matter closed. However, he did point out that his government had asked for the girl commando to Israel.