Israeli Attack on Beirut Airport and Hijacking of TWA Flight 840, January-December 1969
31. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Eliot) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Eliot provided a status report on the TWA Flight 840 hostages. According to confirmed reports, the Syrian Government had released the hijackers and requested outside mediation to bring the hostage situation to an end.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, AV 12 US. Secret; Limdis. Drafted by Baas and cleared by Seelye, Davies, Sisco, and Joan S. Gravatt (E/OA/AVP).
32. Telegram 4196 From the Embassy in Israel to the Department of State
The Embassy reported that Rafael had told the DCM that Israel would participate in a three-way exchange with Syria and Egypt, conducted through the ICRC, to resolve the TWA Flight 840 hostage incident. He stressed the need for secrecy to avoid public debate in Israel.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, AV 12 US. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.
33. Telegram 4348 From the Embassy in Israel to the Department of State
The Embassy reported that the three-way hostage exchange designed to resolve the TWA Flight 840 hostage incident appeared to have fallen through because of difficulties between the ICRC and the Syrian Government. Rafael renewed Israel’s threat to take action and asked the U.S. to try to get the ICRC mission moving forward.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, AV 12 US. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.
34. Telegram 195790 From the Department of State to the Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, and the Embassy in Israel
The Department of State instructed the Mission in Geneva to approach the ICRC as soon as possible to restore the swap agreement and bring the TWA Flight 840 incident to an end. Embassy Tel Aviv was asked to inform RAFAEL that the U.S. Government was approaching the ICRC and the UAR.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, AV 12 US. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Repeated to Beirut. Drafted by Baas on November 20; cleared by Sisco, Davies, and Seelye; and approved by Johnson.
35. Telegram 7660 from the Embassy in Italy to the Department of State
According to information from the Italian Foreign Ministry, the TWA Flight 840 three-way exchange had resumed. ICRC Representative Renard told the Italian Ambassador that the Israelis had accepted the Syrian request and would release the 2 pilots plus 11 other Syrians detainees if the Israelis were released in advance.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, AV 12 US. Secret; Immediate; Exdis
36. Telegram 203374 From the Department of State to Secretary of State Rogers in Bonn
The Department of State informed Rogers that the Syrians had permitted TWA Flight 840 and its two remaining passengers to leave Damascus. Israel had released 13 prisoners to Syria and 50 detainees to the UAR, in exchange for 2 Israeli pilots.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, AV 12 US. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Baas, cleared by Davies, Seelye, and Brown, and approved by Sisco.