Prime Minister Levi Eshkol said this weekend that Nasser’s declarations that Egypt intends to develop new and non-conventional weapons compel us to arm ourselves adequately, especially in the face of the danger of some reckless undertakings upon which Egypt may embark out of despair and loss of prestige.”
Addressing an Israeli paratroop exhibition at Ramat Gan, the Premier noted that “Israel’s enemies are receiving arms in virtually unlimited quantities.” Asserting that “Nasser insists that war with Israel is inevitable,” Mr. Eshkol said that the Egyptians leader’s “threats are accompanied by military preparations which we cannot ignore.”
He did not elaborate on the types of non-conventional weapons developed in Egypt. However, an indication of the type of military-material Egypt may receive was given by Israel’s former Deputy Defense Minister Shimon Peres this weekend. Addressing a political rally at Petach Tikvah, he said “China is knocking at Egypt’s gate and may supply Nasser with even more and newer types of weapons, beyond the arms already flowing into Egypt.” As the former highest civilian official in the Defense Ministry, next to the Premier, Mr. Peres also pointed proudly to the development of Israel’s atomic reactor at Dimona, which is being used for the development of nuclear power for peaceful purposes. He noted that Dimona “has placed Israel on the world’s “political-technological map.”
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