Reuters
7/21/99

By Janet McBride

Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Annemarie Jorritsma launched a new volley of criticism at Israel on Friday during an inquiry into an El Al cargo plane crash that could end her career and undermine the government.

The embattled minister, speaking on the last day of parliamentary hearings, took her cue from Prime Minister Wim Kok and his predecessor Ruud Lubbers.

They slammed Israel on Thursday for blocking efforts to investigate the 1992 disaster. Forty-three people died when the Boeing 737 slammed into Amsterdam's high-rise Bijlmer suburb.

Since then, hundreds of rescue workers and local residents have complained of health problems ranging from headaches, tiredness and nausea to motor neurone disease.

Revelations last year that the cargo included the chemical DMMP, which can be used to make sarin nerve gas, has strained ties with Israel and shattered confidence in the authorities.

Israel confirmed the presence of DMMP, but said it was non-toxic and destined to test filters. Depleted uranium in the wing ballast was also harmless, government experts said.

Jorritsma has vowed to resign if the inquiry finds she failed in her duty to inform parliament and protect the public during her time as Transport Minister after the crash.

Political commentators say if she is forced to quit, other ministerial heads are bound to roll.

But on Friday, Jorritsma came out fighting. She blamed El Al for failing to hand over all the relevant cargo documents and said she was astonished to learn the state carrier had withheld papers relating to 20 tonnes of missing freight.

The committee unearthed copies of the documents in the United States last month.

"I truly believe we did all that we could. You should not have to resort to diplomatic pressure to force the facts into the open," Jorritsma said. "I want to know why we were not given the information. I find it absolutley incomprehensible."

Jorritsma's criticism echoed Kok and Lubbers. Kok said he was dismayed at Israel's failure to cooperate fully, while Lubbers said he felt angered and let down.

Dutch news agency ANP quoted Netenyahu's aide David Bar-Illan as saying he regretted any break-down in communication between El Al and the Dutch government.

"We are sorry if there has been a misunderstanding between El Al and the Dutch authorities. We hope these misunderstandings have been cleared up and that they will not harm the excellent relations between our two countries," he said.

The committee challenged Jorritsma again and again, reminding her of her sometimes contradictory statements and pressing her on her failure to nail down the cargo.

At one point, a visibly irritated Jorritsma refused to answer "non factual" questions. The committee has said it will present its final report by the end of the month.