Skipper of seized ship hints at Palestine link

HANNA ROSIN

EILAT, ISRAEL, JANUARY 7: The Palestinian captain of a ship seized by Israel with 50 tons of offensive weapons on board said in jailhouse interviews today that the shipment was intended for the Palestinians and that he got his smuggling instructions from a Palestinian Authority official.

The captain, Omar Akawi, and a crew of 12 were captured by Israeli commandos. Akawi said he was an adviser for Naval affairs in the Palestinian Authority’s transport ministry, according to Israel Radio. The interviews were to be broadcast later today by Israeli TV stations.

Akawi said: ‘‘I got my instructions from Adel Mugrabi, Fathi Al Razem — both are close to Arafat. I don’t know the weapons suppliers. It might have been a gift from Iran, or maybe a gift from Hezbollah.’’ He was referring to the Lebanese Shiite Muslim militia.

‘‘The ship loaded near an island called Kish close to Iran,’’ he said. The course was through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean, ‘‘where three small ships would carry the weapons to Gaza Port.’’

Israel has accused Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat of ordering and financing the weapons shipment, a charge denied by the Palestinian Authority. The argument over the shipment overshadowed a four-day truce mission by US envoy Anthony Zinni, who flew home today.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon branded Arafat a ‘‘liar’’ and ‘‘bitter enemy’’ over the affair and said his Cabinet would convene soon for a fundamental review of Israel’s relationship with the Palestinian Authority.

Sharon, in remarks here after taking a tour of the weapons laid out in neat, labeled rows for journalists, diplomats and others to see, described the vessel as a ‘‘ship of terror,’’ a ‘‘Trojan Horse by sea,’’ and ‘‘this ticking bomb.’’ The Israeli government flew hundreds of diplomats and reporters to this southern port to see the display of weaponry.

Sharon claimed the captured material showed that Arafat is a ‘‘liar’’ who talks about peace while at the same time buying ammunition. Israeli Gen. Dan Harel told reporters the ship’s captain and five of its crew members were Palestinians and the ship was purchased by a high-ranking Palestinian official. Israeli officials, said their claims were based on interrogation of the ship’s captain, details of which were not disclosed.

Giving detailed information on the discovered weapons Harel said they were found in the front hold, buried under a mound of domestic goods-boxes of toys, plastic bins, flip-flops and a pink gauzy material.

They were packed in wooden crates marked fragile. Inside each crate was a mint green canister, about 12 feet long, filled with weaponry held together with foam. The canisters acted like miniature submarines. Each was equipped with an oxygen gauge which allowed a diver to adjust is depth under the water.

‘‘In time, these allegations will prove to be unfounded,’’ said Nabil Shaath, Palestinian minister of international cooperation. In a statement, the Palestinian Authority said it is ‘‘not involved in this incident and such steps are not part of its policies and it cannot be involved in any such operations of this sort at a time it is fighting to end violence.’’ Israel earlier claimed the smuggling operation originated in Iran, was aided by Hezbollah and was intended for the Palestinian Authority. (LATWP)