Gen. Moshe Dayan, the Israeli Defense Minister whose “off-the-cuff” estimates of Israeli policy have agitated the Arab states and disturbed diplomats since the Six-Day War. has given another interview which was promptly construed as a direct threat to the regimes of Israel’s Arab neighbors.
In an interview with the Army weekly, Bamachaneh, published today, Gen. Dayan spoke enthusiastically of the cease-fire lines as “ideal” and expressed doubts that anyone could establish “more ideal borders than the present ones.” He pointed out that, “after all, crossing the Suez Canal means that we are in the outskirts of Cairo; crossing the Jordan, we are near Amman, and just proceeding somewhat north of Kuneitra, we shall find ourselves in Damascus.”
In time of war, he added, it might be necessary to enter one of the Arab capitals as part of the struggle which is aimed at decision.
Gen. Dayan said that the continuing incidents along the Suez Canal could be the result of action by local commanders or they could be the result of central government policy possibly to show the world that so long as Israel holds one bank of the canal, the canal cannot be operated. This, he said, would necessitate some action to force Israel to withdraw from the area.
The defense minister said that recent El Fatah terrorist and sabotage activities should not be underestimated but he asserted that it was illogical and foolish to compare them to the guerrilla warfare in Vietnam. He said he was sure that most of the inhabitants of the west bank area wanted peace and quiet and had nothing to do with the marauders.
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