Defense Minister Moshe Dayan indicated on a television interview last night that he attaches little importance to Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s recent call to the Palestinians to set up a government-in-exile that Egypt would recognize. “The Palestinian government is in Amman and if they are not satisfied with that regime they should try to change it,” Dayan said. His remark was the first public comment on the Sadat proposal by any Israeli government leader.
Dayan, addressing himself to the problem of terrorism, said that Israel must step up its war against the terrorists by employing the proper methods to counter the changing mode of terrorist operations. He did not elaborate but he is believed to have been referring to the extension of terrorist acts from the Middle East to European countries. Dayan praised the recent appointment of retired Gen. Aharon Yariv, former chief of military intelligence, to the newly, created post of special advisor to the Prime Minister. He refused to comment when asked if Yariv’s appointment had anything to do with the campaign against terrorists.
The Jordanian government, meanwhile, was reported today to be strengthening its armed for- ces on its northern border following reports that several hundred terrorists have been shifted from Lebanon to southern Syria. Jordan has reportedly warned Syria that it would not hesitate to cross the border and strike at terrorist bases inside Syrian territory. According to some reports, Jordan has received modern American military equipment by sea and airlift.
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