Israel Cabinet Discusses Action on Growing Sabotage by Arab Terrorists

The growing wave of sabotage attacks by E1 Fatah, the Arab terrorist group, which has penetrated into Israel almost every night for the last week, including last night, was the center of discussion at the weekly meeting of Israel’s Cabinet here today. Prime Minister Levi Eshkol reviewed the Government’s deep concern with the security situation facing the State. But the spokesman for the Cabinet refused to say, after the session, whether any decisions had been taken regarding counter-measures by Israel.

Deputy Premier Abba Eban, who is acting Foreign Minister during the absence of the incumbent in that office, Mrs. Golda Meir, reported about Mrs. Meir’s meetings during the last 10 days, and her discussions regarding the subject, held with French Foreign Minister Maurice Couve de Murville in Paris, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, London’s Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Michael Stewart, U. S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk and United Nations Secretary-General U Thant. It was learned that Mr. Eshkol himself has held consultations about the E1 Fatah raids in the last week with various military experts and diplomatic advisers.

Col. William Marsh, acting chief-of-staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, was in Amman, capital of Jordan, today. He left for the Jordanian capital yesterday to discuss the problem with King Hussein, Jordanian Premier Eltal and other leaders of the Jordanian Government, in the light of Israel’s warning that it views the sabotage attacks with utmost gravity.

Meanwhile E1 Fatah terrorists continued last night their weeklong series of acts of sabotage. They struck at Zanoach settlement near the Jerusalem Corridor, where explosions were set off near two houses. One empty house was damaged, but there were no casualties. The attack on Zanoach, which is about five miles from the Jordanian border, was one of the deepest penetrations by E1 Fatah terrorists into Israeli territory.