Israel Cabinet Discusses President Kennedy’s Statement on Security

President Kennedy’s statement, made at a press conference in Washington last week, regarding the tense Middle East situation, and his expression of support for the security of “both Israel and her neighbors,” was discussed here today at the regular weekly meeting of Israel’s Cabinet.

There was no official reaction to Mr, Kennedy’s Middle East policy statement. But political circles pointed out that the President’s pronouncement had not contained a clear indication as to what the United States would do in the event of a crisis in this area. They felt that his expression of concern for Israel’s security could be regarded as “mildly favorable.”

The Cabinet session discussed the latest developments in Syria and Iraq, and the likely impact on Israel’s security of these developments. Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion reviewed the general Middle East political situation, while Gen, Zvi Tsur, chief of Israel’s defense forces, went into details of Israel’s current security position.

In general, Israeli quarters are refraining from making definitive assessments of the changes in the governments of Iraq and Syria. Developments in both countries are viewed here as tactical moves by the local Baath parties to satisfy internal, pro-Nasser pressures without sacrificing effective, local Baath control. Reports reaching here stated that the Iraqi army had been alerted for dispatch into Syria in case the pro-Nasserites there had gained the upper hand. The Iraqi, then, would have tried to take over Syria.

If pro-Nasserite pressure continues to build up in Syria, observers here do not exclude the possibility that a military government would be established there. Meanwhile, however; it is pointed out that the Syrian-Iraqi developments are diverting attention from the situa-tion in Jordan. Jordan still remains, in the view of observers here, the strategic target in the struggle between the Baath and the Nasser forces in the region.