Rate of Exchange

In the Middle East the direct approach is not always the most successful one. Last week a complicated three-way swap of prisoners took place among Israel, Syria and Egypt. Shlomo Samueloff, a Hebrew University physiology professor, and Saleh Muallem, a travel agent, had been held in Damascus since their TWA jet was hijacked on Aug. 29. They were exchanged for 13 Syrians held by the Israelis, including two pilots who had accidentally flown their Syrian Air Force MIG-17s into Israel 16 months ago. In an emotional scene at Lydda airport, Premier Golda Meir hugged and kissed the two returnees. The following day, Major Nissim Ashkenazi, a top combat pilot shot down over Egypt in August, and Captain Giora Rom, whose Mirage jet was hit in September, were traded for 52 Egyptian civilians, five soldiers and one air force pilot. After Ashkenazi's return, Israeli officials reported that the pilot had been severely tortured by his Cairo captors, and suffered several broken bones.

Three-Way Trade. The U.S. and Israel began pressing for the release of the two TWA passengers soon after they were imprisoned, but the Syrians at first refused to consider any kind of deal. Israel then turned to the Egyptians, who suggested a wider swap of prisoners. As talks progressed, Egypt asked that Israel return the Syrian pilots, and the Israelis countered by demanding the return of Samueloff and Muallem. This brought Syria grudgingly into the bargaining, which was conducted largely through the Italian embassy in Damascus and broke down three times. The International Red Cross concluded the arrangement for the complicated three-way trade. While Israel was emotionally glad to get its four men back, the deal itself was not universally welcomed. Some fear that the rate of exchange was so heavily weighted against Israel--71 Egyptians and Syrians for four Israelis --that other airline hijackings might actually be encouraged.

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