Israeli forces were deployed along a new 300 kilometer long defense line in Sinal today after successfully completing the final stage of withdrawal precisely on schedule according to the timetable agreed to in the interim accord with Egypt signed at Geneva last September.
The pullback, which involved an undisclosed number of troops and the transfer of some IL 200 million worth of equipment and building material, was accomplished without a hitch, according to Gen. Aryeh Levi, chief of the logistics division at General Headquarters (See related analysis P. 4)
The new Israeli lines–nearly double the length of the old lines–run from the Mediterranean coast west of El Arish to a point at the southern end of the Gulf of Suez. They extend through sand dunes, described as semi-passable across a flat plateau that is suited for tank battles and end in rugged mountain terrain. Defense Minister Shimon Peres, who inspected the new positions last Thursday, said he had found not one military officer from the Chief of Staff down to field commanders who doubled that the Israeli forces could successfully defend the new lines.
The Israeli withdrawal represents a pull-back of 30-40 kilometers from the old positions known as the Barlev Line and an advance of some 10-15 kilometers for the Egyptians. The United Nations buffer zone between the new Israeli and Egyptian lines is much larger than the old buffer zone which has been handed back to the Egyptians
DETECTION STATIONS SET UP
The Israeli forces are now deployed east of the strategic Mitle and Gidi passes, except for the advance warning post at Umm Khashiba which is subject to UN inspection. American technicians have completed setting up three un-manned detector stations in the buffer zone. There will be three manned surveillance posts, one Israeli, one Egyptian and one American. Data received at the American post will be transmitted by tele-printer and telephone, to both the Israeli and Egyptian posts.
Peres, who spoke to Israeli and foreign newsmen during his inspection tour, acknowledged that the new defense lines were less favorable than the old ones militarily but more advantageous for Israel politically. He expressed the view that the interim agreement with Egypt indicated a decision by Cairo to move away from the war option and concentrate on Egypt’s massive economic problems. He expressed the hope that the present state of Israeli-Egyptian relations will remain stable and may eventually pave the way for a final peace settlement.
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