Palestinians Planned to Kill Former Australian PM

[Sydney Morning Herald-Australia] Bob Hawke, who was Labor Party and Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) president, faced assassination in 1976 at the hands of Palestinian militants for his strong pro-Israel views, cabinet papers show. Cabinet documents for 1976 - released under the 30-year rule - reveal security authorities and the government were deeply concerned about the rising tide of Palestinian terrorism. The Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) believed Palestinian terrorists had a clear operational interest in Australia that had been demonstrated by visits from militants. ASIO said: "In addition to the Israeli ambassador, three prominent Australians - R.J. Hawke, president of the ALP and ACTU, and Zionist spokesman Isi Liebler and (journalist) Sam Lipski - were regarded by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine as suitable targets for future attack," according to cabinet documents.


2007-01-02 01:00:00

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