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Ain't I A Woman? newspapers, June 1970-July 1971

1970-10-09 "Ain't I a Woman?" Page 6

"I AM ENGAGED -

Leila Khaled, now being held in England, and six other Palestinian commandos held in West Germany and Switzerland will be freed. The governments holding the guerillas made this announcement Sept. 29, after six Americans, the last of the hundred of hostages seized in the commando hijackings, were freed in Amman.
Leila has been held in England since her unsuccessful attempt to hijack an E1 A1 707 jet on Sept. 6. Her male companion was killed during the attempt.
Leila was in charge of another successful hijacking in August, 1969, when she ripped off a TWA Boeing jet flying from Rome. She and her assistant blew up the plane in Damascus, Syria. Leila later gave the following full account of the hijacking to author and journalist G.H. Jansen, former editor of Middle East Forum.

Isn't it something awful that I could see my home town again only when I hijacked a plane? But there it was - Haifa - away on the left just past the pilot's head as I sat behind him looking out of the cockpit windows. As we came down to 12,000 feet for the approach to Lydda airport the whole lovely coast of my country, occupied Palestine, which some people call "Israel," came into sight.
It was a fine, clear day, but I had little time to enjoy the view because we were approaching the most exciting and dangerous point of our adventure. Although the pilot had so far done everything I told him, would he, somehow, land the plane at Lydda? Or would the Israelis be able to force us to land? 
It had all begun two days earlier in Rome. This was my first visit to Europe and Rome is a wonderful city. I was very tired when I arrived and slept for ten hours solid.
Then the evening before the flight I walked through the city from the Borghese Gardens to the Fountain of Trevi. Of course, I threw the traditional coins in the fountain which means, I hope, that I'll see Rome again: but will the Italians let me in next time?
There was a woman singer in a cafe near the fountain and I just sat and listened for two hours. The only other things I did were to buy myself a bottle of French perfume and to confirm my booking for the flight next day to Athens at the TWA office.
I couldn't eat dinner that night and it was three in the morning before I could get to sleep and when I awoke I had no appetite for breakfast either. I was hungry, but I'm accustomed to hunger because of my commando training and also because, when I was young, there were times when there wasn't very much food at home.
In the morning - this was the 29th August - I had to do some shopping at a very chic shop on the Via Veneto. I bought some very big sunglasses, a leather shoulder bag and a large-brimmed hat which alone cost 15,000 lira. Wickedly expensive I know, but this was all part of the uniform - I had to look like someone who usually travelled first-class.
Back at the hotel I got dressed. I'm not very interested in clothes but it seemed a waste of money to have things burnt when we blew up the plane after landing so I put as little as possible into my suitcase. I put two dresses in my handbag and wore two trouser suits, one on top of the other. The lower one, with psychedelic flowers, was borrowed and I wanted to return it; the top one was in very smart white cotton, sleeveless, and I wore sandals.
Because flight 840 was late we had to wait an extra half hour in the lounge. I spotted the young man who 

[hand drawn airplane's inside view]

was the other member of the "Che Guevara" com
unit. I didn't know him and had only seen his
Apart from a secret sign of recognition we t
notice of each other.
This extra wait was an anxious time and t
things upset me before we got on the plane.
an American lady with four young children who
very happy and excited about their trip. I th
ised, with a shock, that something dreadful
happen to them if anything went wrong. I love
and I wanted to tell the lady not to travel
flight. But when I thought of some of our Pa
children, who had nothing in life, I felt a 
The second incident was in the bus going
plane. A man sat next to me and asked me wher
from, and I let him believe I was from Bolivi
he told me that he was a Greek returning to 
after spending 15 years in Chicago and that
mother would be waiting at the airport.
This was another shock. I felt it particul
cause we Palestinians know what it is to be a
one's country and I too had a widowed mother
for me at home. He went on talking but I didn
the rest of what he said.
My friend and I were in the first-class 
section is nearer the cockpit. But there were
first-class passengers in all, so that the ca
fussed over us a great deal, which was exactl
did not want. Not long after take-off, the tw
seated ourselves in the front row nearest the 
door. We both refused drinks before lunch - 
drink anyway - and then we both refused lunch
we didn't want to have trays on our laps hemm
But when the stewardess exclaimed at this, an
not to be conspicuous, I ordered coffee and m
a beer. He also asked for a pill to suggest t
feeling ill.
We didn't get rid of the cabin crew that e
Instead of lunch they brought us a huge troll
with fruits and cakes and, to our dismay, pan
front of us to help ourselves, completely blo
way to the cabin door.
We had been ordered to take over the plan
utes to an hour after take-off since the Ro
flight takes only 90 minutes, and we were a
the deadline. We didn't want to ask the hos
remove the trolley because that could have
suspicious. Finally, after what seemed an ag
took it away and another passenger, who had
the lounge seat right next to the cabin door
moved away.
The way was clear and we could get into 
without having to frighten anyone - that's 
thing we wanted to avoid: frightened people
foolish things.
I asked for a blanket and the hostess tuc
around me. My friend gave me a strange look,
whether I was becoming afraid. To reassure h
out my toilet case and combed my hair. Then
at my watch and showed him five fingers sign
that in five minutes we would go into action
in charge of the operation. Underneath the b
and this is why I wanted it - I took a pist
my shoulder bag and tucked it into the top o
and then a grenade and took out the safety p
Just as everything was ready, one of the 
carrying a tray came out of the cabin door;

6   Volume I Number 7   Ain't I

Saving...

"I AM ENGAGED - Leila Khaled, now being held in England, and six other Palestinian commandos held in West Germany and Switzerland will be freed. The governments holding the guerillas made this announcement Sept. 29, after six Americans, the last of the hundred of hostages seized in the commando hijackings, were freed in Amman. Leila has been held in England since her unsuccessful attempt to hijack an E1 A1 707 jet on Sept. 6. Her male companion was killed during the attempt. Leila was in charge of another successful hijacking in August, 1969, when she ripped off a TWA Boeing jet flying from Rome. She and her assistant blew up the plane in Damascus, Syria. Leila later gave the following full account of the hijacking to author and journalist G.H. Jansen, former editor of Middle East Forum. Isn't it something awful that I could see my home town again only when I hijacked a plane? But there it was - Haifa - away on the left just past the pilot's head as I sat behind him looking out of the cockpit windows. As we came down to 12,000 feet for the approach to Lydda airport the whole lovely coast of my country, occupied Palestine, which some people call "Israel," came into sight. It was a fine, clear day, but I had little time to enjoy the view because we were approaching the most exciting and dangerous point of our adventure. Although the pilot had so far done everything I told him, would he, somehow, land the plane at Lydda? Or would the Israelis be able to force us to land? It had all begun two days earlier in Rome. This was my first visit to Europe and Rome is a wonderful city. I was very tired when I arrived and slept for ten hours solid. Then the evening before the flight I walked through the city from the Borghese Gardens to the Fountain of Trevi. Of course, I threw the traditional coins in the fountain which means, I hope, that I'll see Rome again: but will the Italians let me in next time? There was a woman singer in a cafe near the fountain and I just sat and listened for two hours. The only other things I did were to buy myself a bottle of French perfume and to confirm my booking for the flight next day to Athens at the TWA office. I couldn't eat dinner that night and it was three in the morning before I could get to sleep and when I awoke I had no appetite for breakfast either. I was hungry, but I'm accustomed to hunger because of my commando training and also because, when I was young, there were times when there wasn't very much food at home. In the morning - this was the 29th August - I had to do some shopping at a very chic shop on the Via Veneto. I bought some very big sunglasses, a leather shoulder bag and a large-brimmed hat which alone cost 15,000 lira. Wickedly expensive I know, but this was all part of the uniform - I had to look like someone who usually travelled first-class. Back at the hotel I got dressed. I'm not very interested in clothes but it seemed a waste of money to have things burnt when we blew up the plane after landing so I put as little as possible into my suitcase. I put two dresses in my handbag and wore two trouser suits, one on top of the other. The lower one, with psychedelic flowers, was borrowed and I wanted to return it; the top one was in very smart white cotton, sleeveless, and I wore sandals. Because flight 840 was late we had to wait an extra half hour in the lounge. I spotted the young man who [hand drawn airplane's inside view] was the other member of the "Che Guevara" com unit. I didn't know him and had only seen his Apart from a secret sign of recognition we t notice of each other. This extra wait was an anxious time and t things upset me before we got on the plane. an American lady with four young children who very happy and excited about their trip. I th ised, with a shock, that something dreadful happen to them if anything went wrong. I love and I wanted to tell the lady not to travel flight. But when I thought of some of our Pa children, who had nothing in life, I felt a The second incident was in the bus going plane. A man sat next to me and asked me wher from, and I let him believe I was from Bolivi he told me that he was a Greek returning to after spending 15 years in Chicago and that mother would be waiting at the airport. This was another shock. I felt it particul cause we Palestinians know what it is to be a one's country and I too had a widowed mother for me at home. He went on talking but I didn the rest of what he said. My friend and I were in the first-class section is nearer the cockpit. But there were first-class passengers in all, so that the ca fussed over us a great deal, which was exactl did not want. Not long after take-off, the tw seated ourselves in the front row nearest the door. We both refused drinks before lunch - drink anyway - and then we both refused lunch we didn't want to have trays on our laps hemm But when the stewardess exclaimed at this, an not to be conspicuous, I ordered coffee and m a beer. He also asked for a pill to suggest t feeling ill. We didn't get rid of the cabin crew that e Instead of lunch they brought us a huge troll with fruits and cakes and, to our dismay, pan front of us to help ourselves, completely blo way to the cabin door. We had been ordered to take over the plan utes to an hour after take-off since the Ro flight takes only 90 minutes, and we were a the deadline. We didn't want to ask the hos remove the trolley because that could have suspicious. Finally, after what seemed an ag took it away and another passenger, who had the lounge seat right next to the cabin door moved away. The way was clear and we could get into without having to frighten anyone - that's thing we wanted to avoid: frightened people foolish things. I asked for a blanket and the hostess tuc around me. My friend gave me a strange look, whether I was becoming afraid. To reassure h out my toilet case and combed my hair. Then at my watch and showed him five fingers sign that in five minutes we would go into action in charge of the operation. Underneath the b and this is why I wanted it - I took a pist my shoulder bag and tucked it into the top o and then a grenade and took out the safety p Just as everything was ready, one of the carrying a tray came out of the cabin door; 6 Volume I Number 7 Ain't I