GIRL AT PRESS CONFERENCE; REPORTERS; GIRL SPEAKING




Initials PS/V/JH/CB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A 23 YEAR OLD PALESTINIAN GIRL, MISS RASHIDA ABDEL-HAMID EBEIDO, CLAIMED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN AMMAN YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) THAT SHE HAD PLANNED AND EXECUTED THE JERUSALEM SUPERMARKET EXPLOSION ON FEBRUARY 21.

TWO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WERE KILLED AND NINE PEOPLE WOUNDED IN THE BLAST, ACCORDING TO ISRAELI AUTHORITIES.

MISS EBEIDO, SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE, SAID NONE OF THE 500 PEOPLE ARRESTED BY THE ISRAELI AUTHORITIES AFTER THE INCIDENT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

THE GIRL, OF HEBRON IN OCCUPIED WEST JORDAN, SAID SHE FLED TO THE EAST BANK A FEW DAYS AGO WHEN SHE LEARNT ISRAELI POLICE WERE ON HER TRAIL.

SHE SAID SHE WAS A TEACHER IN THE GULF STATE BAHRAIN UNTIL THE JUNE 1967 ARAB-ISRAELI WAR WHEN SHE LEFT FOR JORDAN TO JOINT THE POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE.

HER SISTER WAS STILL IN AN ISRAELI PRISON, ALTHOUGH HER PARENTS AND BROTHER HAD BEEN FREED AFTER DETENTION, MISS EBEIDON SAID.

THE ORGANISATION ALSO ADMIT BLOWING UP THE AMERICAN-OWNED OIL PIPELINE PASSING THROUGH OCCUPIED SYRIAN TERRITORY TO REMIND THE UNITED STATES IT HAD TO PAY A BIG PRICE FOR ITS SUPPORT OF ISRAEL.