FULL TEXT OF ISLAMIC JIHAD 17 MARCH STATEMENT

UNCLAS BEIRUT 01725

E.O. 12356:DECL:OADR
TAGS: PTER PREL LE
SUBJECT: FULL TEXT OF ISLAMIC JIHAD 17 MARCH STATEMENT


1. AP PROVIDED EMBASSY WITH FULL TEXT OF ISLAMIC
JIHAD STATEMENT AS TELEPHONED MARCH 17 TO
REUTERS AND AFP.


2. BEGIN TEXT:

"THE ISLAMIC JIHAD ORGANIZATION IN THE NAME OF GOD
THE ALL MERCIFUL. THE PUNISHMENT OF THOSE IS THE
CURSE OF GOD, THE ANGELS AND ALL PEOPLE. THE DETENTION
OF TERRY ANDERSON, BRIAN LEVICK AND JERRY (GEOFFRY?)
NASH COMES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF OUR CONTINUING
OPERATIONS AGAINST AMERICA AND ITS AGENTS. WE ARE
DEFINITE THAT ISLAMIC BEIRUT IS FULL OF AGENTS FROM
ALL SIDES AND ACCORDINGLY WE ARE WORKING DAY AND
NIGHT TO PURGE OUR REGION OF ANY SUBVERSIVE ELEMENT
OF THE MOSSAD, CIA OR ALLIED INTELLIGENCE
AGENCIES. WE ADDRESS A FINAL WARNING TO FOREIGN
NATIONALS RESIDING IN OUR ISLAMIC REGIONS TO
RESPECT OUR HOSPITALITY AND NOT TO EXPLOIT THEIR
PRESENCE AMONG US TO UNDERTAKE SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES
AGAINST US. ASSUMING THE PROFESSION OF A JOURNALIST,
MERCHANT, INDUSTRIALIST, SCIENTIST AND RELIGIOUS
MAN WILL FROM NOW ON BE OF NO AVAIL TO SPIES
STAYING AMONG US. THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED, AND THEIR
PUNISHMENT IS WELL KNOWN. ON THE OTHER HAND, WE
LEARNED THAT SWITZERLAND IS PLANNING TO BUY WEAPONS
AND PILOTLESS RECONNAISSANCE PLANES FROM THE
ZIONIST STATE. WE WARN BERNE AGAINST MAKING SUCH
A STEP AS IT WILL REMOVE FROM IT ITS NEUTRAL
CHARACTER AND THREATEN ITS INTERESTS, ESTABLISHMENTS
AND NATIONALS THROUGHOUT THE ISLAMIC AND WESTERN WORLD."
"WE HAVE DELAYED RELEASING THIS
STATEMENT UNTIL THE THREE WERE TAKEN OUTSIDE BEIRUT."
END TEXT.


3. INDIVIDUAL TAKING CALL SAID IT WAS FROM
THE "USUAL" MAN WHO CALLED, SPEAKING LEBANESE
ACCENTED ARABIC, ABOUT 1900 ON MARCH 17.

BARTHOLOMEW