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DATE=2/18/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245666
TITLE=ISRAEL GERMANY KURDS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: ISRAEL HAS TIGHTENED SECURITY AT ITS DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS 
AND OTHER FACILITIES WORLD-WIDE AFTER ISRAELI GUARDS SHOT DEAD 
THREE KURDISH PROTESTERS AT ISRAEL'S CONSULATE IN BERLIN 
WEDNESDAY.  ISRAELI OFFICIALS ARE CRITICAL OF GERMAN SECURITY IN 
THE INCIDENT. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM.
TEXT:  ISRAEL'S AMBASSADOR TO GERMANY -- AVI PRIMOR -- SAYS 
GERMAN POLICE HAD NOT TAKEN APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO DEAL WITH THE
KURDISH THREAT TO ISRAELI INSTITUTIONS.
HE SAYS THE FEW GERMAN POLICE STATIONED OUTSIDE THE ISRAELI 
CONSULATE IN BERLIN WERE BRUSHED ASIDE BY THE DEMONSTRATORS WHO 
STORMED THE BUILDING -- AND ONLY AFTER THE ISRAELI SECURITY 
GUARDS OPENED FIRE DID THE CROWD RETREAT.
ISRAEL BECAME THE TARGET OF KURDISH ANGER AFTER A GERMAN NEWS 
REPORT EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT ISRAEL'S MOSSAD INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
HAD HELPED TURKISH AUTHORITIES TRACK DOWN KURDISH REBEL ABDULLAH 
OCALAN, LEADER OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, THE P-K-K.
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU INSISTS THE ISRAELI 
GUARDS IN BERLIN ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE WHEN THEY OPENED FIRE IN 
WEDNESDAY'S INCIDENT, AND THAT ISRAEL HAD NO PART IN THE CAPTURE 
OF MR. OCALAN:
                       ///NETANYAHU ACT///
         OUR SECURITY GUARDS HAVE CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS TO PROTECT 
         THEIR OWN LIVES, PROTECT THE LIVES OF ISRAELIS, AND ALSO
         TO PREVENT THE TAKING OF HOSTAGES. WE REGRET THE LOSS OF
         LIFE. ANY LOSS OF LIFE IS REGRETTABLE. AND IT'S TRAGIC. 
         WE HOPE THAT CALM  WILL PREVAIL. AND I REPEAT ONCE AGAIN
         THAT ISRAEL HAD NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO -- ABSOLUTELY 
         NOTHING -- WITH THE APPREHENDING OF OCALAN, THE KURDISH 
         LEADER.
                          ///END ACT///
ISRAEL HAS SENT A TEAM LED BY FOREIGN MINISTRY DIRECTOR-GENERAL 
EITAN BEN-TZUR TO JOIN GERMAN OFFICIALS IN AN INVESTIGATION OF 
THE CONSULATE INCIDENT.
MEANTIME, ISRAELI OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE 
VENGEANCE ATTACKS BY P-K-K MILITANTS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE 
DEATHS.
ISRAELI TELEVISION SAID A POSSIBLE TARGET COULD BE ISRAELI TROOPS
IN SOUTHERN LEBANON, WHERE THE P-K-K HAS TRAINING CAMPS. ISRAELI 
FORCES WERE SAID TO BE ON  ALERT ALL ALONG ISRAEL'S SELF-DECLARED
LEBANESE SECURITY ZONE.
ISRAEL HAS CLOSE RELATIONS AND MILITARY AGREEMENTS WITH TURKEY, 
THOUGH  MR. NETANYAHU SAID REPEATEDLY ISRAEL HAS  NO  QUARREL 
WITH THE KURDS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/PCF/PLM
18-Feb-99 5:45 AM EST (1045 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.