Res. Gen., Meir Amit, president of Koor Industries, Israel’s largest industrial enterprise which is owned by the Histadrut, said here yesterday that “major radical changes must take place” among the Israeli leadership. He observed nonetheless that if Defense Minister Moshe Dayan “will be fired” and “the system will not be changed” then nothing will be achieved.
He observed, however, that the required changes cannot be made by the present leadership. Speaking at a press conference at Histadrut House here, Amit, former chief of Israeli Army Intelligence, said that until the Yom Kippur War the Israelis were captive of a concept that said “nothing could happen to us.” He reiterated the view that there was no intelligence mistake in regard to the latest Mideast war but there were mistakes in the interpretation of information.
Amit, who is here on a speaking tour for the Israel Histadrut campaign, contended that Israel “needs more and more” sophisticated and expensive equipment from the United States, especially since the Yom Kippur War has shown that the Soviets supplied the Arabs with “very efficient” arms. Discussing the post-war economy of Israel. Amit predicted an increase in economic activity but indicated a shift from consumer goods production to defense related products. Other changes will include increases in production for export and increased investments in new projects.
Amit noted that Israel has to strengthen itself in 1974 economically and go on with its development plans even though “the political situation” can end with a crisis. He claimed, however, that he does not see a new war breaking out this year and that “even the Soviet Union does not want to annihilate us.” In regard to the U.S. policy in the Mideast, Amit said that “even more than it was in the past there will be a greater U.S. interest in a strong Israel” in view of frictions between the U.S. and certain European countries. Describing himself as a dove, Amit said that Israel has to initiate new ideas, to be more flexible and to bring in the next few months a political change in Israel because “the need is there.” (By Yitzhak Rabi)
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