ISRAEL: FORMER HIJACKER LEILA KHALED IS PERMITTED BACK INTO ISRAEL

(18 Apr 1996) English/Nat

After almost 50 years in exile, Israel has permitted former hijacker and Palestinian guerrilla Leila Khaled, back into Israel.

Khaled gained worldwide notoriety for two plane hijackings in 1969 and 1970.

Hundreds of Palestinians waited at the entrance to the Allenby Bridge to greet Leila Khaled.

The woman who calls herself a freedom fighter not a terrorist was given permission by Israeli officials to return to her homeland after nearly half a century in exile.

The daughter of a coffee shop owner, she was born in Haifa four
years before the 1948 war that led to Israel's creation and drove her family to Lebanon.

Khaled was trained as a commando by George Habash's Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Khaled's first hijacking was of a T-W-A plane in 1969. The Rome to Tel Aviv flight was diverted to Damascus and all 113 passengers were released unharmed.

In 1970 she and an accomplice commandeered an Israeli El Al jetliner.

She was arrested by British police when the plane made an emergency landing in London.

Her partner was killed and she was overpowered.

She was held for 28 days and then released in a swap for hostages from other hijacked planes.

Khaled, now 52, is still a member of the Damascus-based Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine or P-F-L-P -- a P-L-O faction that continues to oppose the current peace process.

SOUNDBITE:
I'm very excited. I can't formulate my feeling except that I want to hold and embrace everything here. Even you yourself.
SUPER CAPTION: Leila Khaled, Former hijacker

Khaled's return became possible in principle after Israel offered exiled members of the Palestine National Council -- the Palestinians' Parliament-in-exile to resettle in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Israel wants the Palestinians to revoke sections of the P-L-O charter calling for Israel's destruction.

Only the P-N-C can take such a step.

SOUNDBITE:
I myself am against it.
Q: Why?
Because up until now the goal that we have struggled for have not achieved I mean the right for self determination and establishing an independent state in Jerusalem as its capital. Up to now this is not changed . Until it changes -- we will see whether we want to change or not .This is my opinion.
SUPER CAPTION: Leila Khaled, former hijacker

Israelis protesting the decision to allow Khaled into the country chanted at the Allenby Bridge -- the bridge crossing between Israel and Jordan.

Palestinian police asked the demonstrators to leave -- when they refused policemen opened fire into the air.

The demonstrators fled from the bridge into Israeli territory.

Many exiled members of the Palestine National Council are being allowed into the country to participate in a crucial vote in Gaza City this month on whether to revoke sections of the P-L-O charter calling for Israel's destruction.

250 of the 450 A-N-C members have already received entry permits and 200 have arrived.

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