Soviet Campaign Against Israel Watched with Interest in Washington

Competent circles here are watching with utmost interest the campaign which the Soviet press started against Israel under the pretext that Israel is preparing for “provocations” against Syria. Soviet newspapers are also attacking Israel for acquiring jet bombers from the United States.

A statement from Moscow distributed here today by Soviet diplomats alleged that “high ranking United States officials recently held conferences with the Government and the general staff of Israel.” It claimed that “aggressive and extremist forces in Israel are being spearheaded against neighboring Arab states” and that “provocations by Israel in areas bordering on neighboring countries have become more frequent.”

The Soviet statement quoted press reports as stating that “the Israeli army has been alerted, leaves for officers and men have been cancelled, Israeli troops are being concentrated on the borders with Syria. The Chief of General Staff of the Israeli Army, Yitzhak Rabin, is making provocative speeches against Arab states, evidently, depicting matters as if Israel can lay down what policy countries bordering on her must pursue,” the Soviet statement asserted.

The Soviet Army organ “Red Star” reaching here today carries an article criticizing the U.S. sale of arms to Israel. The newspaper said America was trying to “drive a wedge between the Arab countries.” Another newspaper “Sovietskaya Russiya” said “The new American-Israeli agreement on arms supplies to Israel has constructed a direct bridge between Washington and Tel Aviv.” Leaders of Israel, it said, “wish to serve as a spearhead directed by imperialism into the heart of the Arab national liberation movement.”