Israel’s Cabinet met here today to discuss the current Israeli-Arab crisis, reportedly found itself concerned over the slow results from actions by maritime powers designed to lift the blockade of the Strait of Tirana, and was understood to have issued instructions that Israeli diplomatic missions abroad step up their efforts to gain some positive achievements toward lifting the blockade through diplomatic means.
The Cabinet was an enlarged body today, being attended by the newly-designated Minister of Defense, Moshe Dayan, and by the two non-members of the coalition Government who have been designated as members of the National Unity Cabinet. They are Menahem Begin, and Yeses Sapir, both of Gahl, the parliamentary fusion of Heart and the Liberal Party. Also attending the session today was Israel’s Ambassador Abraham Harman, who had come here especially from Washington to help the Cabinet review the United States position in the current crisis, Mr. Harman departed immediately after the Cabinet meeting for his post in Washington.
(President Johnson declared last night in New York that he was “determined” to preserve peace in the Middle East and “determined to preserve the territorial integrity of nations involved in the area.” The President interpolated the declaration in a speech that was otherwise confined to domestic problems.)
The principal reviews of the situation were led by Prime Minister Levi Eshkol and Foreign Minister Abba Eban. Contrary to previous expectations, the Cabinet had reportedly taken no action today regarding the statement issued over the weekend by the French Government, which had declared its position in the crisis as being one of “positive neutrality.”
CABINET APPROVES SPECIAL $500,000,000 LOAN; DEFENSE TAX PLANNED
The Cabinet voted approval of the issuance of a special Independence Loan of Israel Bonds in a sum of $500 million. The bonds, to be sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico and other Latin American countries will pay interest of 4 percent and will be redeemable in 15 years. Another financial item before the Cabinet was the question of levying a special 15 percent defense tax on all income. The tax has already been approved by the Knesset’s finance committee.
Mr. Dayan today named Gen. Tzvi Tour, former Israeli defense forces chief of staff, as assistant Minister of Defense, Since Gen. Tour is not a member of the Keenest, he is not eligible to become Deputy Minister. At the same time, Moshe Pearlman, well-known Israeli journalist and writer, who has particular experience as a liaison man with the foreign press, was named as the head of the foreign press section of the Israel army’s spokesman’s office.
Mr. Dayan held another press conference today, reiterating some of the statements he made at his first news conference yesterday, to the effect that he is firmly opposed to the use of non-Israelis in Israel’s army. He declared: “We don’t want American or British boys to lose their lives defending Israel against the Arabs, Personally I would not expect nor want anyone else to fight for us. Israel can fight and win its own battles with its own troops.” Asked whether he considered war inevitable, he said Israel is awaiting results from diplomatic negotiations before embarking on unilateral action.
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