The announcement made last night over the official Syrian radio station in Damascus that the Syrian Government intends to continue its “strafing of sites” inside Israel, and the provocative statement made in the broadcast declaring that “it is high time that the arms for which the Syrian people are paying to be used,” has provoked high interest in Israel.
It is felt here that Syria may seek escalation of hostilities with Israel which will raise tension to a high pitch and which may bring about a situation changing the present comparative state of tranquility on the Arab-Israel borders. Israel is determined to use “the right of pursuit” against Syrian aggressor planes, and to follow them into the interior of Syria.
According to the Damascus Radio, the Syrian Government has decided on a “strategy of instigating a popular war of liberation” by carrying out acts of aggression inside Israel. The Syrian Foreign Minister, Dr. Ibrahim Makhous, said in a statement last night that, instead of complaining against Israel to the United Nations Security Council, his country will from now on follow a policy of direct military response to any act of Israeli “aggression.” The Syrian radio did not mention the fact that, in its clash with Israel Monday, Syria lost two Soviet MIG aircraft.
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