Page 33 - Encyclopedia Of Terrorism

A-Kushner.qxd 29-10-02 3:18 PM Page 6

6———Aden-Abyan Islamic Army

dumped his body overboard. Klinghoffer’s body later Marilyn Klinghoffer, who had been forcibly
washed ashore on a Syrian beach. separated from her husband by the hijackers before
Threatening to blow up the ship, the hijackers they murdered him, died of cancer several months
demanded the release of 50 Palestinian prisoners held after the hijacking. In her obituary, the Washington
in Israel. Egyptian and Palestine Liberation Organi- Post reported that, after returning from Italy,
zation (PLO) officials negotiated with the hijackers Mrs. Klinghoffer told President Reagan that she had
and Abbas, who was not on the liner but claimed spit in the faces of the hijackers as she identified them.
responsibility as the leader of the men on board. “God bless you,” Reagan reportedly replied. Although
Abbas had commanded the radical PLF faction for the PLO settled a $1.5 billion court case with the
many years and was known for having sent his men Klinghoffer family in 1997, the group has always
on surprise raids into the heart of Israel on hang glid- asserted that the hijackers were working without
ers and in hot air balloons. However, at the time of their support.
the hijacking, he was also a member of the PLO’s
executive committee. See also ABU ABBAS; PALESTINE LIBERATION FRONT–ABU
ABBAS FACTION; PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION
Six British women aboard the ship, a dance troupe
and the ship’s beautician, later spoke to the press. The
women explained that one of the hijackers had watched Further Reading
over them amid death threats from the other three and Borger, Julian. “Homecoming of a Hijacker; Julian Borger
that the British and American passengers had been Talks With the Achille Lauro Mastermind Abbul Abbas, at
separated from other passengers. His Political Party’s New Offices in Gaza.” The Guardian
The ship docked in Cairo, where Abbas negotiated (London), May 28, 1998, 14.
the exchange of the ship and the hostages for free Cowell, Alan. “Hijacker Defends Achille Lauro Killing.”
passage to Tunis in North Africa for himself and his New York Times, November 14, 1988, A3.
“’85 Achille Lauro Killing ‘a Mistake.’” New York Times,
men. However, U.S. fighter planes intercepted the
April 23, 1996, A12.
plane carrying the five men to Tunis and forced it to
Fisk, Robert. “Abbas—Symbol of Guerrilla Disunity/Profile
land in Sicily. Three of the hijackers were arrested in
of Instigator of Achille Lauro Hijacking Incident.” The
Italy, but the Italian government refused to turn Abbas
Times (London), October 14, 1985.
and two associates over to the U.S. Marines. Instead, Fisk, Robert. “Gunman Saved Britons’ Lives/Women
Abbas and his cohorts were assisted in fleeing to the Relive Ordeal of Achille Lauro Hijacking Incident.” The
former Yugoslavia. Times (London), October 14, 1985.
In 1986, an Italian court tried Abbas in absentia Phillips, Don. “Marilyn Klinghoffer, Hijacking Survivor,
and sentenced him to life in prison. However, he was Dies; Achille Lauro Victim Pushed Antiterror Fight.”
never arrested. During the same year, Abbas discussed Washington Post, February 10, 1986, A5.
the Achille Lauro hijacking in a controversial NBC
news interview. He denied that his men had killed
Klinghoffer, only to later publicly acknowledge that Adel, Saif al-. See AL-ADEL, SAIF.
they had. He also maintained that the men did not
know that Klinghoffer was American or Jewish. How-
ever, during countless interviews, Abbas always main-
tained that the Achille Lauro hijacking had not gone ADEN-ABYAN ISLAMIC ARMY
according to plan. Abbas asserted that the goal of the
hijackers was to use the Achille Lauro to sail to the
Israeli port of Ashdod. There they planned to attack The Aden-Abyan Islamic Army, most recognized
the nearby naval base. for its involvement in the 2000 bombing of the
In 1996, Abbas publicly embraced the peace U.S.S. Cole, is allegedly affiliated with Osama bin
process and Israel allowed him to enter Gaza despite Laden’s Al Qaeda network. The Yemen-based group
the international warrant for his arrest. The United has been implicated in several acts of terror since the
States abandoned efforts to extradite Abbas and late 1990s.
dropped the warrant for his arrest after the statute of Aden-Abyan was formed sometime in either 1996
limitations expired. or 1997 as a loose guerrilla network of a few dozen