Peres Says Israel’s Armed Forces in Better Shape Than Ever

Defense Minister Shimon Peres told Israelis on the eve of Independence Day that their armed forces were in better shape than ever; disclosed that Israel has offered, through the International Red Cross, a mutual agreement with its Arab neighbors not to strike at civilian centers in the event of another Mideast war; and declared that Israel must stand firm against pressure from the United States, without forgetting “that it was America that helped us thus far.”

Peres made these points in interviews published today in Israel’s two largest dailies–Yediot Achronot and Maariv–in their Independence Day supplements. He said that the Israeli army has not only restored itself since the Yom Kippur War but is very different and much improved over what it had been.

He said that the young men coming into the army today are “the best the State has ever known. The command is younger and we have more formations than we ever had.” He said the lessons of the Yom Kippur War have been studied carefully and, he hoped, all the shortcomings have been remedied.

Peres acknowledged that Israeli cities were within range of the Soviet-made “Scud” missiles in the possession of Syria and Egypt. But, he said, there is almost no harm that they can inflict on Israel without Israel being able to retaliate manyfold. He said the Red Cross was aware that Israel is ready to undertake an agreement, on a mutual basis, to refrain from hitting civilian centers.

INCREASING TENSION PREDICTED

The Defense Minister said, with reference to the U.S., that Israel must continue to promote friendship and explain its position and not be dragged into fruitless discussions or pursue personal recriminations. He said Israel must be prepared for increasing tension in the region, up to the brink of war which may occur on all three fronts. He said that after May or June, “We may offer the Egyptians one of the two possibilities. Either we go back to the Kissinger-style negotiations or go to Geneva where the solution of a final settlement is to be sought.”

Peres disclosed in his interviews that about 30 percent of the equipment and weaponry used by the Israeli army is manufactured locally. It was learned, meanwhile, that the Israel Air Force has begun to absorb the new Israeli-made jet fighter, the “Kfir” (Lion Cub), which was unveiled to the public yesterday. The plane was described as a combination of the French Mirage, powered by the same jet engine that drives the faster American Phantom, and embodying improvements and innovations conceived by Israeli designers and engineers.

The “Kfir” is manufactured by Israel Aircraft Industries which is reportedly capable of producing the American General Electric J-79 engine. Israeli officials stressed, however, that it was not intended to replace existing combat planes but to re-enforce the Air Force’s strength. They said the “Kfir” was an intermediate generation of fighter plane to fill the gap between the F-14 Phantoms, now the backbone of Israel’s air arm, until Israel acquires the more advanced American F-15 or F-16 jets.

Aviation sources say the “Kfir,” which has a speed 2.2 times the speed of sound, is on a par with the latest Soviet MIG-21s in the Egyptian and Syrian air forces. Some sources here claimed it was superior to the Russian’s MIG-23, also supplied to Syria and Egypt and considered to be faster than the Phantoms. But there could be no confirmation of such claims unless the two aircraft were pitted in combat.