Defense Minister Moshe Dayan indicated today that he viewed Egypt’s flouting of the Suez cease-fire as a political threat no less than a military one. He said for Israel to go on negotiating despite these circumstances, “would imply yielding to the dictate of others.” Gen. Dayan. spoke briefly to newsmen when he emerged from a meeting of the Cabinet’s defense committee which reportedly discussed only military matters. He said the Egyptians had made “many very substantial changes” by moving missiles into the standstill cease-fire zone after the truce went into effect Aug. 7. He said the missiles were still only a potential threat that would materialize if the cease-fire ended.
Gen. Dayan said that a number of resolutions were adopted at the meeting, several of them unanimously, an indication that the Cabinet is not divided on all issues related to the cease-fire. He said none of the resolutions were such as to prompt him to resign but he conceded that there were “differences of principle” between himself and some of his ministerial colleagues. Meetings of the Cabinet defense committee usually are attended by all ministers who constitute themselves as the defense committee. This bars publication of any of their deliberations under penalty of law. The next regular Cabinet meeting is scheduled to be held next Sunday. The Cabinet is expected to continue debating what Israel’s reaction should be to Egypt’s truce violations. It is also expected to decide when Israel’s UN Ambassador. Yosef Tekoah, will return to New York and if he should resume his role as Foreign Minister Eban’s alternate at the Jarring peace talks.
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