Dayan: Israel Intends to Retain Control of West Bank Indefinitely Favors Jewish Settlement in Gaza S

Defense Minister Moshe Dayan indicated in a radio interview that Israel intends to retain military control of the West Bank indefinitely and declared that even in the event of a peace settlement the area must be open to Jewish settlement. He also favored Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip despite the population density there. (See P. 3 for special JTA analysis of West Bank elections.)

“I do not believe we should remove our soldiers from the Jordan (river) with the present situation in the Arab world being what it is,” Dayan said. “We must be in a position to control the entire West Bank absolutely should the need arise and to fight terrorists there if the Fatah continues, or stops and then renews their activity.” Noting that Israeli forces had to cross the Lebanese border recently “to protect our northern settlements.” Dayan said, “we must not retreat today only to be compelled to cross borders again in violation of UN resolutions.”

Dayan said he saw only one positive aspect in Hussein’s recent proposal to establish an Arab federation linking the West Bank with Jordan. “Hussein spoke of borders, meaning that he recognizes Israel’s right to exist, while (President Anwar) Sadat (of Egypt) presents the question as one of the rights of the Palestinians to all of Israel,” Dayan said.

Commenting on last Tuesday’s elections on the West Bank, the Defense Minister said that it was very important that the terrorists had failed to sabotage the elections. Dayan stated that the very fact that the elections were held–and by secret ballot–was significant. He noted that the candidates had stood of their own free will and that it was only after they showed signs of giving in to Jordanian and terrorist pressure that the Israeli administration had asserted its resistance to the pressure.