Six Arab terrorists who infiltrated from Syria were killed and two were captured today in a battle with an Israeli army unit near Ramat Magshimim on the Golan Heights. A military spokesman said the terrorists were heavily armed and carried equipment indicating they were on a mission to seize hostages and commit sabotage. According to the spokesman, the two captured terrorists informed Israeli soldiers that six others of their group were in the vicinity.
They were discovered at about noon local time and killed. One was blown up when a shot hit a pack of explosives he was carrying. There were no Israeli casualties. Two electric loud hailers were found near the bodies, apparently to be used in negotiations after hostages were captured. Also found near the bodies were eight Kalachnikov automatic rifles, four pistols, about 30 hand grenades and two back packs containing 22 pounds of explosives, sabotage gear, transistor radios, maps, compasses and binoculars.
Defense Minister Moshe Dayan declared yesterday that no matter how many Arab terrorists, they will not be able to destroy Israel. “Even if there are 30,000 terrorists they will not prevent us from building the State of Israel.” he said in a memorial service for the Maalot victims. “The question is,” he said, “whether we are going to put up a fight or break down.” The terrorists killed today were trying to retrieve the bodies of the three terrorists killed in Maalot and to free those in Israeli jails.
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