Israel Continuing Extensive Fortifications in Sinai

Despite the political and diplomatic commotion over Israel’s future status in Sinai, in the context of second stage negotiations with Egypt, Israeli engineers are continuing extensive efforts of fortifying Israel’s present line in Sinai established by the disengagement agreement.

From all indications, Israel may spend some IL100 million in fortifying the Sinai line in addition to the IL 3-400 million already spent in fortification, roads and other types of work. The intensity of the work indicates that there is no impending withdrawal by Israel from its Sinal position. “We have absolutely no feeling of sitting on valises.” is the way one senior officer put it.

But the Israelis are not the only ones engaged in building up fortifications. The disengagement agreement, which does not have any provisions dealing with fortifications, is also enabling the Egyptians to carry out extensive works, including new road networks and fortified positions along the hilly ridge a few kilometers east of the Suez Canal. But the most is important work being done by the Egyptians is the preparation of sites for a large army and for missile launchers.

EGYPTIANS PREPARE FOR ARMY MOVEMENTS

Although missiles are not permitted into the thinned-out area and east of the Suez, the Egyptians are nevertheless preparing sites and a central control station for anti-aircraft missiles within the area under their control east of the Suez.

In fact, the Egyptians discovered a loophole in the disengagement agreement and are taking full advantage of it. The agreement did not deal with armored troop carriers and thus the Egyptians feel free to bring into areas east of Sinai a large number of such vehicles, some of which are equipped with the Sagar anti-tank missiles. The Egyptians are also training their forces to cross the Suez in the least possible time.

A number of Egyptian infantry divisions recently crossed the Suez into the thinned-out zone, in violation of the agreement, but with drew them after the exercise. It is estimated that the Egyptians can have the bulk of their army in the Sinai within six to twelve hours. They have several pontoon bridges as well as approaches to the Suez Canal that will ease the crossing.

Meanwhile Defense Minister Shimon Peres reported to the Cabinet today, according to government sources, that the Egyptian build-up in Sinai was not an infringement of the disengagement accord because the build-up was beyond the limited forces zone laid down in the accord. At the same time he reported that tension has declined on the Lebanese border but expressed concern that terrorists are trying to take over the southern Lebanese village of Shuba in the area known as Fatahland on Israel’s border.