Anniversary of Cease-fire; Quiet on Both Sides of Canal; Israel’s Defenses Strong

The start of the second year of the United States-initiated cease-fire on Israel’s various fronts was marked today by a statement from Gen. Chaim Bar-Lev that during the initial year, there had been “an unprecedented strengthening” of Israel’s Defense Forces in all branches – the army, the air force and the navy. He added “we have rested, we have had exercises and training and we are ready.” He also said on a televised interview that, from a military viewpoint, Israel did not need the cease-fire but that it welcomed it. He stressed that the Egyptians had “no chance of driving us back from the Suez Canal,” adding that if the Egyptians tried it, “they will soon learn they will get nowhere.” Ultimately, he said, the Egyptians would recognize that the way of war would bring them no gains. He also described the status of the terrorist groups as “very low,” and said it was hard to believe that they could regain their former power. He said he did not exclude the possibility of isolated eruptions of “demonstrative” terrorist activities, nor that attempts might be made to organize isolated terrorist cells for occasional acts of sabotage.

Reports from the Suez Canal zone presented a picture of tranquility in an area which before the start of the cease-fire on Aug. 7, 1970, had been the site of bloody clashes of planes and missiles as part of the war of attrition proclaimed by the late Egyptian President Nasser. About the only problem to the soldiers manning the Bar-Lev line on the east bank of the canal, the reports indicated, was flies. Egyptian soldiers on the west bank apparently were similarly enjoying the cease-fire. They dip themselves in the canal waters, do some fishing, or relax under the few trees remaining after the intense Israeli shelling of targets on the Egyptian side. Some Egyptians even waved back to a group of Israeli and foreign correspondents who visited the canal on the anniversary. On the eve of the anniversary, two Egyptian jets buzzed Israeli outposts on the waterway. The Israeli military command said the over flights are a violation of the cease-fire. Tranquility also prevailed on the northern road in Israel near Lebanon. Terrorist activities from Lebanese bases had ceased completely, officials said, apparently partly because of the Lebanese Government crackdown and partly from the impact of Israeli patrols in the area. The road was opened yesterday to all travelers without restrictions.