U.S. believes it can indict Abul Abbas

Ha'aretz Daily ^ | 4/19/03 | Nathan Guttman and Arnon Regular

[NormsRevenge]

The United States believes it can indict captured Palestinian leader Mohammed Abbas (better known as Abul Abbas) for murder, and that his immunity under the Oslo Accords applies only in Israel and the PA, not in the U.S.

Although no legal steps have been started to charge Abul Abbas, U.S. administration sources say this is expected to be done as he is responsible for a terrorist act - the hijacking of the Achille Lauro cruise ship - during which an American citizen, Leon Klinghoffer, was murdered.

The Americans are also debating how to treat a request to extradite Abul Abbas to Italy to where he has been tried in absentia, convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Italian Justice Minister Roberto Castelli said he would seek extradition.

Italian Justice Ministry officials met American counterparts yesterday for a two-hour meeting described as preliminary, and said more would follow. The meetings are clear up legal questions on Abbas' status and decide from which country Italy should seek extradition.

Castelli said yesterday that "whatever decision is made by the two countries, it will be made in full accord, without opening a confrontation."

In 1985 members of the PLF (Palestine Liberation Front) headed by Abul Abbas, hijacked the Italian Achille Lauro and murdered Klinghoffer, an elderly, disabled Jewish American in a wheelchair, and threw his body overboard. Charges were pressed against Abul Abbas in the U.S. for kidnapping, piracy and murder, but the charge sheet expired.

Under the Oslo agreement between Israel and the PA, members of the PLO were granted immunity from acts committed before the 1993 peace accords. Palestinian minister Saeb Erekat has demanded that the Americans free Abul Abbas. PA sources insist he has immunity under the accords, which also stipulated that people involved in past terrorism would not be indicted if they renounced terrorism and joined the peace process. Abul Abbas publicly renounced terrorism in 1996 and Israel allowed him to enter the PA for Palestine National Council meetings.

But a State Department official said "the 1995 interim agreement concerns arrangements between Israel and the PA for the detention and prosecution of certain persons. It does not apply to the legal status of persons detained in a third country." In addition, they said that since Abul Abbas was responsible for the murder of an American citizen, the U.S. anyway has legal rights in his regard.

The American military have linked Abul Abbas to Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism. However, American reports in the last few years do not mention any terrorist activity carried out by the PLF or by Abul Abbas himself, and do not mention any Iraqi aid for PLF activities, apart from giving asylum to its commander.

In the past Abul Abbas was also linked to Osama Bin Laden's Al Qaida, but no proof of this was ever produced and Abul Abbas dismissed such claims.

The Damascus-based PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine), which does not recognize the Oslo agreement, yesterday condemned Abul Abbas's arrest as "an act of terror" and demanded his release. "The U.S... is terrorizing Arabs and imposing its will on them," said PFLP spokesman Abou Sami.

Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin said Abul Abbas's arrest suggested U.S. forces were now targeting leaders of the Palestinian uprising. "It shows America is sinking its sharp teeth into Iraq and into Palestine," said Yassin. "It is a Crusader war against both. But it will be defeated. Our people are stronger than Israel and America."

[Hugin]

The whole notion that an agreement between Israel and the PLO trumps American law is just plain stupid. We may be a third party signatory, but it is not a treaty to which we are a party. If it were it would have needed to be ratified by the Senate, which it wasn't. Therefore the laws of the United States take precedent.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

"...Our people are stronger than Israel and America." And we will burn their stomachs in hell as per Baghdad Bob.

[ambrose]

These scumbags sure are going to great lengths to spring someone who has supposedly given up being a terrorist... Says volumes...

[nicmarlo]

LOL....oh, those clips of Baghdad Bob were actually fun to watch....comic relief in an otherwise sad and worrisome time.

[the_doc]

"It shows America is sinking its sharp teeth into Iraq and into Palestine."

I love this quote. The guy is inadvertently conceding that we are ultimately going to tear the heads off the countries which foment terrorism. (Saddam and his thugs down, Arafat and his thugs to go.)

[cyborg]

Where's Bill Clinton lately? hmmm...

[truth_seeker]

"It shows America is sinking its sharp teeth into Iraq and into Palestine," said Yassin. "It is a Crusader war against both. But it will be defeated. Our people are stronger than Israel and America."

They get the part about the "sharp teeth" correct, then go on to repeat their inane bluster, about their never demonstrated Strength.

[Cindy]

FOX NEWS.com: "PALESTINIAN TERRORIST ABU ABBAS ARRESTED" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "WASHINGTON -- Palestinian Liberation Front leader Abu Abbas was captured by American forces on the outskirts of Baghdad and is in U.S. custody, Central Command announced Tuesday. Abbas' group killed an American on the hijacked cruise liner Achille Lauro in 1985. Abbas was taken by American special operations forces during a raid Monday night on the southern outskirts of the capital city, U.S. Central Command said in a statement. Several of his associates were also detained during raids at several sites around Baghdad, defense officials said. Commandos, tipped off by U.S. intelligence to Abbas' whereabouts, also seized documents -- including Yemeni and Lebanese passports -- and weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades, officials said.")(April 16, 2003) (Read More...)

stepping back in time...SPECIAL OPERATIONS.com: "ACHILLE LAURO HIJACKING, Mediterranean Sea, October 1985" (View Here.)

[EaglesUpForever]

"Abul Abbas was not captured by America, but
rather he has captured America. He will
try them for their filthy deeds, and

[AFPhys]

We are not a "third party signatory" to the Oslo ... we simply signed as a "witness" --- think just how binding on the "best man" a marriage contract is.

[FixitGuy]

Didn't Italy let this ba$tard go originally?

[PGalt]

Italians worked real hard to get this criminal(/sarcasm). Put him on the deck of a carrier, go through the cards in the deck, and since he's not one of the cards...throw him off the deck. Sorry Abul we can only play the cards we are dealt...it's a simple game...war.

[NormsRevenge]

Put him on the deck of a carrier .. and strap him to a steam catapult .. and .. ;-)