(2 of 2)
Shortly after the airborne explosions, a terrorist splinter group known as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, General Command, took credit for the bombings. In the face of withering condemnation, however, the Amman-based General Command hastily backtracked and tried to cast blame elsewhere. Fedayeen Leader Yasser Arafat announced that the Unified Command representing ten commando organizations "is now seriously reviewing the entire question of attacks on international airliners." Jordan's King Hussein meanwhile cabled condolences to the Swiss, while Lebanon's Public Works Minister Pierre Gemayel stated candidly: "It is not by these methods that we get the world's sympathy for our cause."
Shifting Criticism. Israel's recognition of that fact tempered its response. Previously, Israel has struck back swiftly and vigorously whenever its lines of communication were attacked. By downplaying retaliation last week, Premier Golda Meir helped to shift criticism from her own country to its adversaries. Israel has been chastised for the bombing raid last month on the Egyptian factory at Abu Zabal that killed 70 civilians. Last week it was the Arabs' turn to hear criticism.
Even so, an Israeli counterblow cannot be ruled out entirely. The question is: Where can the Israelis strike? Since at least two of the suspects in the bombings have been identified as Jordanians. Jerusalem could order an attack on Amman's airport to wipe out Jordan's fleet of three Caravelles. But King Hussein is among the least rabid of the Arab world's leaders, and the Israelis know that in recent weeks he has been struggling to curb the terrorists within his borders. Egypt is already under almost daily attack by Israeli warplanes, and a really massive strike against Cairo could irritate the U.S. and Russia.
Because the Israelis did such a thorough job on Beirut's commercial air fleet in their helicopter raid of December 1968, another attack there might be considered a case of overkill. Strikes at commando bases within Lebanon are a possibility, however, particularly in view of reports that the fedayeen, in a January agreement with the Lebanese government, won almost complete freedom of movement within the country. An even more likely target might well be the new $40 million Damascus airport, especially since members of the General Command undergo training in Syria.