Israel’s resolute decision not to permit-Syria to encroach on Israel’s sovereign territory and disturb civilian life was stressed by Prime Minister Levi Eshkol at the weekly Cabinet meeting here today.
The Cabinet discussed the recent escalation in Syrian border attacks on Israeli farmers using mortar and tank fire to bombard Israeli positions and the laying of mines along Israeli patrol roads. The Premier said that the representatives of the major powers have been informed of the serious view taken by Israel over the incidents and Israel’s delegation at the United Nations this evening submitted a note to the members of the U.N. Security Council on the stopped up Syrian attacks.
In an effort to explain the recent sharp increase in Syrian attacks on Israeli farmers and patrols along the border, observers today suggested that the Syrians might have concluded that Israel was now more vulnerable to attack after the Syrian-Egyptian defense agreement and the condemnation of the Israeli retaliation on Samua village in Jordan. Israeli circles believed that the current series of attacks were meant to form a “test case” to try Israel’s patience and reaction if any.
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