Bar Lev Says Israel Might Resume Attacks into Egypt’s Interior if Need Arises

Chief of Staff Haim Bar Lev said Friday that Israel might resume deep penetration attacks into Egypt should the situation warrant them. “I am not of the opinion that the entry into Egypt’s depth is closed before us,” he said in an interview in the newspaper Maariv. “Today,” he continued, “we are not of the opinion that deep bombing is necessary, but the situation may change and then we may resume deep penetrations.” Gen. Bar Lev also indicated that Israeli pilots would attempt to carry out their missions despite any interference from Soviet pilots flying on Egypt’s behalf. He added his opinion that the United States had the power to act to prevent a Soviet advance to the Suez Canal. “America,” he said, “can well influence the situation. She can check the Russians if she does something, and would encourage the Russians if she does nothing.” On May 4, Defense Minister Moshe Dayan announced that deep-penetration raids into Egypt had been halted in an attempt to avoid “actions that might lead to a clash with the Russians.” But he asserted that “We will continue to hold our present line at all costs and we shall not let the enemy undermine these lines.”