DEPARTMENT OF STATE OPERATIONS CENTER TWA HIJACKING WORKING GROUP SITUATION REPORT NO. 14 SITUATION AS OF 1700 EDT, JUNE 20, 1985

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87T00434R000300240040-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 28, 2010
• Sequence Number: 40
• Publication Date: June 20, 1985
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2011/03/08: CIA-RDP87T00434R000300240040-5
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE OPERATIONS CENTER
TWA HIJACKING WORKING 4GKOUP
SITUATION REPORT NO.14
SITUATION AS OF 1700 EDT, JUNE 20. 1985
At 1504 tSDT Nabih Barre allowed reporters to
interview a aelacted group of five hostages: Allyn
Conwell, Peter Hill, Thomas Cullins, Vincent. Garza,
end Arthur Toga. Acting as the spokes>,an, Conwell
read a statement beseeching the U.S. to refrain from
any milatary.action, condemning all forms of
hi]acking or terrorism and calling for the planned
release of the Lebanese detained in Israel to be
expedited. Con'w.Ll said he had personally visited
earlier in the day all the hostages except for the
three crow ,Fill aboard the aircraft ar,~d could vouch
that they were all being treated well. He read a
list of the S}aass of the 37 hostages hql had seen
which matched our own list of those still held. In
response to 4 ~ question, Conwell said ttljat i f the
Israeli prisoners were not released, too U.S.
hostages would be turned over to the original ----
hijackers, a prospect they found "Moat unappealing,."
Akif Hayq)ar, Asal's Politburo Chairman, confirmed
in an earlier press conferogce today tq,at hostages
with "Jewish,,aounding" names were beiny held
separately '
f!om the other hostages. H4,ydar said this
had been done because of suspicion that they had
"Zionist links." Uaydar indicated that the
negotiations were not going well and said that the
TWA hostages would not be released until the Lebanese
detained by Israel were treed. Haydar claimed that
the hostages were not hold directly by Anal but Anal
trusted those who were holding them. (According to
an unconfirmed Phalange radio report, the hostages of
Jewish origin have been transferred to aa'labakk.)
Berri told reporters today that the release of
the U.S. hostages and the Israeli detainees could
take place iq, Switzerland. Haydar said, however,
that Amal would refuse to transfer the hostages to
the ICRC singe it they ware all in one group, they
would be a target for military intervention.
There have been unconfirmed press, reports that
one of the hq,stages, Jim Palmer, who has o heart
condition, would be released tonight, ABC has a
charter aircraft standing by in Beirut to fly Palmer
to Larnaca if he is released.
Wises: a
DCCL t OA R
Approved For Release 2011/03/08: CIA-RDP87T00434R000300240040-5
 SECRET
Ambassador Bartholomew conveyed a message today from
Secretary Shultz to President Gemayel expressing appripciation
for nis personal involvesent in efforts to free the hostages
and requesting continuing cooperation. In his continuing
af1fort to aobilisa pressure on Berri, Reg also spoke today to
i::=,;jar President Camille Chpsoun, Transportation Minister valid
Juablatt,;and acting Interior Minister Joseph Skaft. Chamoun
later' issued a strong statement calling for the unconditional
release of the hostages.
In an interview published today, Israeli Defense Minister
Rabin said that as long as the U.S. did not ask Israel "in the
most explicit and formal manner" to release the Shia detainees
to enable the TWA hostages 66 Lebanon to be. released, he would
not "lend a hand" in releasing the Shia held in Israe4. In
contrast. Prime Minister Peres told reporters he respected and
adaired the U.S. position op the hijacking, but would not
comment on the issue furtheji because "we are not responsible
for the rescue cif the peupiV who were smacked."
Bruce Strathearn
Co-Coordinator T1rAnW(i Senior Watch Officer
Approved For Release 2011/03/08: CIA-RDP87T00434R000300240040-5
Approved For Release 2011/03/08: CIA-RDP87T00434R000300240040-5