Wikileaks - LXVIII

101 12/16/1985 16:40 85THEHAGUE8873 Embassy The Hague SECRET 85STATE371962|85STATE371963 O 161640Z DEC 85 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0131 INFO AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY BONN AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY BEIRUT AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 08873

TERREP EXCLUSIVE

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR TAGS: PTER, NL SUBJECT: ABU NIDAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

REF: (A) STATE 371962, (B) STATE 371963,

1. (S - ENTIRE TEXT.)

2. SUMMARY: EMBASSY HAS DISCUSSED ISSUE OF ABU NIDAL TERRORISM (REFTELS) WITH APPROPRIATE MFA OFFICIALS. THE INITIAL MFA RESPONSE INDICATED THE DUTCH RECOGNIZE THE DANGER OF ABU NIDAL GROUP AND ARE PREPARED TO PARTICIPATE IN A \"POLITICAL DIALOGUE\" WITH THE US AND OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO CONSIDER POSSIBLE JOINT ACTION. NONETHELESS, THERE IS NO CLEAR IDEA WITHIN THE MINISTRY AS TO HOW SUCH A DIALOGUE MIGHT BE STRUCTURED AND WHAT CHANNELS OF COORDINATION WOULD BE MOST EFFECTIVE. THE DUTCH ALSO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF OUR DEMARCHE TO PASS ON INFORMATION CONCERNING A POSSIBLE AMAL TERRORIST ACTION WHICH THE MFA RECEIVED CONFIDENTIALLY FROM TWO LIBYAN GOVERNMENT SOURCES. END SUMMARY.

3. AMBASSADOR RAISED ISSUE OF ABU NIDAL TERRORISM (REFTELS) WITH MFA DIRECTOR FOR MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA AFFAIRS JAN HORAK AND EMBASSY OFFICER FOLLOWED UP IN GREATER DETAIL WITH AREND HUITZING, HEAD, MFA MIDDLE EAST OFFICE, AND JOOP VAN BOSSE, HEAD, NORTH AFRICA OFFICE. WE EXPLAINED USG INTEREST IN INCREASED INTER- NATIONAL COOPERATION AGAINST ABU NIDAL, DRAWING ON POINTS REF A, AND PROVIDED MFA WITH US INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENT ON THE SUBJECT (REF B). WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENT TO DUTCH INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES VIA SIRO LIAISON CHANNELS.

4. HUITZING AND VAN BOSSE INDICATED THAT GON IS CON- CERNED ABOUT ABU NIDAL ORGANIZATION, WHICH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR BOMBING OF AN EL AL OFFICE IN AMSTERDAM IN SEPTEMBER. HUITZING NOTED THAT NETHERLANDS AND US ARE ALREADY EXCHANGING INFORMATION ON TERRORISM THROUGH APPROPRIATE CHANNELS AND HE DOUBTS THERE WAS MUCH NEW THE DUTCH COULD OFFER IN THIS AREA. HE DID THINK, HOWEVER, THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR A \"POLITICAL DIALOGUE\" BETWEEN THE US AND CONCERNED EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO SEE WHAT CONCRETE DIPLOMATICC SECURITY MEASURES WE COULD JOINTLY TAKE TO DEAL WITH THE ABU NIDAL THREAT.

5. WE ASKED HUITZING AND VAN BOSSE IF THEY HAD ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO THE BEST FORUM FOR SUCH A DIALOGUE. THE TWO MEN DISAGREED IN THEIR RESPONSES. HUITZING FAVORED DEALING WITH THE ISSUE AT NATO, WHILE VAN BOSSE THOUGHT A US DIALOGUE WITH THE EC \"TREVI\" GROUP DEALING WITH TERRORISM MIGHT BE BETTER. HUITZING\'S PREFERENCE FOR NATO SEEMED BASED ON HIS DESIRE TO GIVE PREEMINENCE TO THE POLITICAL/ DIPLOMATIC ASPECTS OF SUCH A DIALOGUE, WHILE VAN BOSSE FELT THE TREVI GROUP COULD BETTER DEAL WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF THE TERRORISM ISSUE. BOTH MEN AGREED THE MFA LACKS A CLEAR POINT OF CONTACT FOR COORDINATING TERRORISM POLICY COMPARABLE TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT\'S M/CT.

6. WE ALSO ASKED VAN BOSSE ABOUT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US THAT A NUMBER OF DUTCH TRAVELING TO LIBYA HAD TWO PASSPORTS, ONE OF WHICH WAS OFTEN SEIZED BY LIBYAN AUTHORITIES. VAN BOSSE CLARIFIED THAT SUCH SEIZURES USUALLY ONLY OCCUR WHEN THE LIBYANS HAVE AN UNRESOLVED COMMERCIAL OR FINANCIAL CLAIM AGAINST THE DUTCH CITIZEN IN QUESTION. THE PASSPORTS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS RETURNED EVENTUALLY BY THE LIBYANS, VAN BOSSE SAID, AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THEY HAVE BEEN USED TO FACILITATE ILLEGAL TRAVEL BY TERRORISTS. HUITZING NOTED THAT IT WOULD BE FAR EASIER FOR THE LIBYANS TO OBTAIN DUTCH PASSPORTS ON THE \"BLACK MARKET\" FROM AMONG PASSPORTS REPORTED LOST OR STOLEN WITHIN THE NETHERLANDS THAN TO ATTEMPT TO USE ONE OF THE FEW SEIZED DIRECTLY BY THEIR AUTHORITIES, SINCE THE DUTCH KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON THOSE PASSPORTS AND WOULD BE AWARE IMMEDIATELY OF LIBYAN INVOLVEMENT IF THEY SHOWED UP IN THE HANDS OF TERRORISTS.

7. VAN BOSSE ALSO USED THE OPPORTUNITY OF OUR DEMARCHE TO PASS TO US INFORMATION RECEIVED IN CONFI- DENCE FROM TWO DIFFERENT LIBYAN DIPLOMATS REGARDING POSSIBLE TERRORIST ACTIVITY. VAN BOSSE SAID THE DUTCH EMBASSY IN TRIPOLI HAD BEEN TOLD IN JULY THAT THE AMAL GROUP IN LEBANON WAS PLANNING A POSSIBLE AIR HIJACKING OF A DUTCH AND/OR LIBYAN AIRCRAFT. ACCORDING TO THE LIBYAN SOURCES, THE TERRORISTS WOULD BE USING FORGED LEBANESE OR LIBYAN PASSPORTS. VAN BOSSE ADMITTED THE INFORMATION WAS RATHER DATED, BUT HE PRESENTED IT TO US TO UNDERSCORE THE DUTCH MFA ARGUMENT THAT MAINTAINING DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH LIBYA CAN OCCASIONALLY YIELD VALUABLE INFORMATION OF USE TO THE WEST\'S EFFORTS TO COMBAT TERRORISM.

8. VAN BOSSE AND HUITZING CONCLUDED BY SAYING THEY WOULD BRING OUR DEMARCHE ON ABU NIDAL TO THE ATTENTION -- SEPTEMBER CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

21 MARCH ITALY. THREE UNIDENTIFIED MEN THREW HAND GRENADES INTO A JORDANIAN AIRLINE OFFICE IN ROME, INJURING TWO PEOPLE. BLACK SEPTEMBER CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

21 MARCH GREECE. AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN THREW A HAND GRENADE INTO THE JORDANIAN AIRLINE OFFICE IN ATHENS, INJURING THREE PEOPLE. CLAIMED BY BLACK SEPTEMBER. (SEE SEPTEMBER 25, 1985 INCIDENT.)

21 MARCH CYPRUS. AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN THREW TWO HAND GRENADES INTO THE JORDANIAN AIRLINE OFFICE IN NICOSIA. CLAIMED BY BLACK SEPTEMBER.

9 MARCH UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. A BOMB WAS FOUND ON A JORDANIAN AIRLINER. THE YOUNG PALESTINIAN WHO CARRIED THE BOMB ONTO THE KARACHI-TO-AMMAN FLIGHT SAID HE THOUGHT HE WAS TRANSPORTING DRUGS TO SUPPORT ABU NIDAL TERRORIST OPERATIONS.

22 FEB. JORDAN. THE JORDANIAN PEOPLE\'S REVOLUTIONARY PARTY PLACED A BOMB AT THE AMERICAN CENTER FOR ORIENTAL RESEARCH IN AMMAN. THE BOMB WAS FOUND AND DEFUSED.

10 JAN. JORDAN. A BOMB PLANTED BY THE JORDANIAN PEOPLE\'S REVOLUTIONARY PARTY WAS DEFUSED NEAR A USAID EMPLOYEE\'S HOME. THE EXPLOSIVES HAD NEITHER A POWER SOURCE NOR A TIMING DEVICE.

1984

29 DEC. JORDAN. TWO UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN ASSASSINATED FAH AL-QAWASMEH, A MEMBER OF THE PLO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND FORMER MAYOR OF HEBRON, OUTSIDE HIS HOME IN AMMAN. TWO WITNESSES TO THE SHOOTING WERE INJURED BY GUNFIRE AS THEY TRIED TO BLOCK THE ASSASSINS\' FLEEING VEHICLE. BLACK SEPTEMBER CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

14 DEC. ITALY. ISMAIL DARWISH, A LEADING MILITARY FIGURE IN THE FATAH MOVEMENT, WAS GUNNED DOWN ON A ROME STREET BY AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN WHO FLED ON A WAITING MOTOR SCOOTER. ARAB REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

4 DEC. ROMANIA. THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION OF THE JORDANIAN EMBASSY WAS SHOT AND KILLED AS HE WAS GETTING INTO HIS CAR IN BUCHAREST. BLACK SEPTEMBER CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

2 DEC. JORDAN. A GUARD DISCOVERED A BOMB CONCEALED IN AN ATTACHE CASE INSIDE THE AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE AND CITIBANK BUILDING IN AMMAN. BOMB TECHNICIANS DEFUSED THE DEVICE, WHICH CONTAINED 18 BLOCKS OF TNT AND A TIMER. THE JORDANIAN PEOPLE\'S REVOLUTIONARY PARTY WAS LATER DETERMINED TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

4 OCT. CYPRUS. A CAR BOMB EXPLODED BEHIND THE ISRAELI EMBASSY IN NICOSIA, SLIGHTLY INJURING ONE PERSON. CLAIMED BY ABU MUSA\'S FATAH DISSIDENT ORGANIZATION.

13 AUGUST JORDAN. JORDANIAN POLICE DEFUSED A BOMB CONSISTING OF SEVERAL HUNDRED GRAMS OF SOVIET-MADE EXPLOSIVES NEAR THE RESIDENCE OF A US EMBASSY OFFICIAL. THE JORDANIAN PEOPLE\'S REVOLUTIONARY PARTY WAS LATER DETERMINED TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

11 AUGUST JORDAN. MEMBERS OF THE JORDANIAN PEOPLE\'S REVOLUTIONARY PARTY TRIED TO SET OFF A BOMB OUTSIDE THE JORDAN RADIO AND TELEVISION STATION. THE BOMB WAS DISCOVERED AND DEFUSED.

3 AUGUST JORDAN. A BOMB EXPLODED UNDER A WATER TRUCK PARKED NEAR THE U.S. EMBASSY WAREHOUSE IN AMMAN. THERE WERE NO CASUALTIES AND ONLY MINOR DAMAGE. THE ABU NIDAL GROUP CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

29 MAY CYPRUS. A FORMER SAIQA OFFICER WHO HAD SWITCHED HIS ALLEGIANCE TO ARAFAT, ABDULLAH AHMAD SULEIMAN EL SAADI, WAS MURDERED IN LIMASSOL. FOUR SYRIAN MEN AND TWO WOMEN WERE ARRESTED FOR THE MURDER AND SUBSEQUENTLY DEPORTED FROM CYPRUS.

3 MAY CYPRUS. AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN SHOT AND KILLED PALESTINIAN PUBLISHER HANNA MUQBIL AND WOUNDED HIS SECRETARY IN NICOSIA. MUQBIL WAS REPORTEDLY A FORMER MEMBER OF ABU NIDAL WHO HAD DEFECTED TO ARAFAT\'S CAMP.

24 MARCH JORDAN. A BOMB WAS DEFUSED OUTSIDE THE BRITISH CONSULATE IN AMMAN. THE ABU NIDAL GROUP CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

24 MARCH JORDAN. A BOMB WAS DISCOVERED AND DEFUSED OUTSIDE THE BRITISH CULTURAL CENTER. THE ABU NIDAL GROUP CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

24 MARCH JORDAN. A BOMB EXPLODED IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL, WHICH IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE U.S. EMBASSY, DAMAGING TWO VEHICLES AND SLIGHTLY INJURING A USAID EMPLOYEE AND HIS DAUGHTER. A SECOND BOMB WAS DISCOVERED IN THE PARKING LOT AND DEFUSED. THE ABU NIDAL GROUP CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

1983

29 DEC. SPAIN. TWO JORDANIAN EMBASSY EMPLOYEES WERE ATTACKED BY A LONE GUNMAN AS THEY WERE LEAVING THE EMBASSY. WALID JAMAL BALKIS WAS KILLED INSTANTLY, AND IBRAHIM SAMI MOHAMMED WAS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED. THE ARAB REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

19 DEC. TURKEY. A CAR BOMB WAS DISCOVERED IN AN ABANDONED RENTAL CAR MIDWAY BETWEEN THE FRENCH CULTURAL HOUSE AND THE CORDON HOTEL USED BY AMERICAN MILITARY PERSONNEL IN IZMIR. THE BOMB\'S TIMER APPARENTLY MALFUNCTIONED. TURKISH POLICE LINKED THE ABU NIDAL GROUP AND SYRIAN AGENTS TO THE INCIDENT.

7 NOV. GREECE. TWO SECURITY GUARDS OF THE JORDANIAN EMBASSY WERE WOUNDED ON A CROWDED STREET IN ATHENS. ONE OF THE TWO VICTIMS DIED FROM HIS WOUNDS. THE ARAB REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

26 OCT. ITALY. THE JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE VATICAN AND HIS DRIVER WERE WOUNDED IN AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IN ROME. THE ARAB REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

25 OCT. INDIA. JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR WOUNDED BY AN UNKNOWN ASSAILANT IN NEW DELHI. CLAIMED BY THE ARAB REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES.

13 OCT. JORDAN. TWO HAND GRENADES WERE THROWN INTO A POLICE BARRACKS IN AMMAN. A MEMBER OF THE POLICE RECRUITED BY SAIQA CONFESSED TO THE ATTACK. LOCAL AUTHORITIES SUSPECTED THAT ABU NIDAL ELEMENTS MAY ALSO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

21 AUGUST GREECE. A HIGH-LEVEL PLO OFFICIAL, MA\'MUM MURAYSH, WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY TWO UNIDENTIFIED MEN ON A MOTORCYCLE. THE VICTIM\'S SON AND HIS DRIVER WERE WOUNDED. THE MOVEMENT FOR REBUILDING FATAH CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

10 APRIL PORTUGAL. THE PLO OBSERVER TO AN INTERNATIOAL CONFERENCE OF SOCIALISTS, ISAM AL-SARTAWI, WAS SHOT TO DEATH IN A HOTEL LOBBY. SARTAWI\'S SECRETARY WAS SLIGHTLY WOUNDED IN THE ATTACK. THE ABU NIDAL GROUP CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

1 JANUARY ISRAEL. A GRENADE ATTACK ON A CIVILIAN BUS IN TEL AVIV INJURED 12. BOTH SAIQA AND ABU NIDAL CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

(END TEXT OF CHRONOLOGY.)

4. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED FOR BEIRUT, KABUL, MOSCOW, AND LENINGRAD.

SHULTZ