Ex-CIA Head Confirms "Green Light"

The following paragraphs are excerpted from translated articles distributed by Independent Media Review and Analysis (IMRA), <imra@netvision.net.il>.

Leiah and Jason Elbaum

IRIS

<http://www.netaxs.com/people/iris>

(by Yossi Melman, Ha'aretz, March 26, 1997, p. A3)

James Woolsey, former head of the CIA, criticized the American administration for its unwillingness to accept the version of events put forward by Israeli intelligence, according to which PA Chairman Yasser Arafat gave the "green light" to carry out the terror attack in Tel Aviv last week. "The Administration is ignoring the possibility that there is more than one way to encourage acts of terror," Woolsey said in an interview with Ha'aretz. "In the struggle against terror it is preferable not to get into a dispute over semantics," he said.

To illustrate the point, Woolsey cited the case of the British monarch, Henry II. "He did not give the order to murder Thomas Beckett, the Archbishop of Canterbury, but he went to the trouble of surrounding himself with people who would understand his intentions. I do not know if Henry II gave a green light or a strong flash of a yellow light, but it was enough to eliminate the Archbishop," he said.

Woolsey visited Israel many times between 1993 and 1995 as head of the CIA. He is currently in Israel to participate, along with other Western experts, in an international conference to mark the opening of the International Policy Institute for Counterterrorism in the framework of the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya.

When asked if the American administration truly does not believe that Israel has compelling proof regarding Arafat's responsibility for the attack, Woolsey replied, "it is important that the Administration understand that Israel is on the front line against terrorism and that it has a precise grasp of what is happening in the West Bank and Gaza. The United States has to understand that there are different ways to encourage terrorism." His assessment is that "it is definitely possible that Israel has collected exact information regarding this matter."

The "green light" which Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat gave the heads of Hamas and Islamic Jihad to carry out terror attacks took the form of an explicit statement which was interrupted by one of his assistants. This, according to reports which reached the political level in Jerusalem and were transmitted in full to the American administration.

According to the version of events accepted among senior political officials, the March 9 discussion between Arafat and the heads of the rejectionist organizations took place in the following manner: Arafat opened the meeting by hurling grave charges against Israel, without in any way qualifying them with a warning that he was not sanctioning terrorist action (something he had done on past occasions). Arafat even began uttering a sentence connoting aggression, but was cut off by one of his assistants, who advised him to be careful in what he says. One of the heads of the rejectionist groups interrupted, saying there was no need to be explicit since those present understood him well.

After a few days, leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad conducted meetings in which representatives of the Palestinian Authority also participated. Based on the March 9 meeting [with Arafat], it was stated at these gatherings that Arafat would permit terror attacks to occur. This impression concerning Arafat's stance was reinforced by his subsequent actions, which included the release of rejectionist prisoners.

Israel gave the information it had on the March 9 meeting to the American administration and demanded its intervention. The administration declined. After the additional Hamas and Islamic Jihad gatherings took place, Israel approached the administration a second time, and demanded that it warn Arafat not to lend a hand to the execution of terrorist attacks. The administration agreed in part to the Israeli request and approached Arafat, but not publicly. However, the administration refrained from demanding that the PA Chairman publicly clarify to the rejectionist groups that he forbids terrorist attacks.

Only after the attack on the Apropos Caf in Tel Aviv, and after the public backing which the IDF Chief of Staff and the head of IDF Military Intelligence gave to the story concerning Arafat's granting of the "green light", did the American administration change its reaction and begin to support the Israeli assertions. Last night it was reported that an apology was sent for the State Department spokesman's first statement, which had not confirmed Israel's assertions, and which was now explained as a "misunderstanding."

The prevalent explanation in Jerusalem regarding the American moves is fear in the White House of becoming embroiled with Congress if the US were to confirm the Israeli version of events, according to which Arafat was personally involved in terrorist activity. American law forbids contacts or assistance to persons, entities or states which are involved in terrorist activity.

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