Gen. Eitan Continues Campaign Against Defense Budget Cuts

Chief of Staff Gen. Raphael Eitan continued his campaign against proposed cuts in the defense budget by detailing the growing military strength of Israel’s fees on its eastern front. In an interview published in Yediot Achronot, Eitan also commented on recent attempts by terrorists to infiltrate Israel from Jordanian territory.

The latest such incidents occurred over the weekend when Israeli forces pursued terrorists into Jordan and killed two of them. Gen. Yehoshua Sagoy, chief of military intelligence, said yesterday that he did not think the Jordanian authorities were aware of the presence of that terrorist group on their soil. Eitan noted that there have been five infiltration at tempts from Jordan in recent months. He said that proved that it was possible for terrorists to cross the border with or without the knowledge or permission of the Jordanian authorities.

ARMY CANNOT ABSORB IL 10 B. CUT

He said the army was economizing as much as possible but could not absorb the IL 10 billion cut in the defense budget proposed by Finance Minister

He referred to the Saudi Arabian military base at Tabok, not far from Eilat as a “monster of gigantic dimensions” being constructed with American military aid. He said Jordan is receiving the best available tanks from Western countries and is about to get more new equipment from Russia. The Jordanian army has undergone revolutionary changes, the Chief of Staff said. Its artillery is now self-propelled and it has many U.S. mode “Hawk” anti-aircraft missile batteries.

Syria, according to Eitan, is replacing its obsolete tanks with the newest T-62 and T-72 tanks from the Soviet Union. Its air force is now equipped with advanced MIG-23 and MIG-25 combat planes. Iraq has more than doubled the size of its army in the last four years and now has a wholly armored and mechanized force, he said.