Israel to Meet Egypt’s Move by Increasing Its Armed Strength

The most recent armaments developments in the Middle East will force the Israel Army of Defense to speed up its equipment and training programs, Shimon Peress, director general of the Defense Ministry, declared here last night at a meeting of employees of the Ministry. Mr. Peress said that the so-called Ben Gurion Plan of development which the army had been following for the past two years was two-thirds completed as of now, but would have to be scrapped in favor of a plan to meet the needs of the new situation.

He reported progress in the expansion of the arms of every division of the armed forces. Progress in building up the artillery arm had been “immense,” he stated, although the army still lacked several types of artillery pieces. The newest types of jet planes acquired by Israel would give the Jewish State new air superiority, Mr. Peress noted. He reported that Israel had obtained a number of naval vessels of various tonnages, including two destroyers from Britain. The communications and infantry branches had obtained new equipment and arms, including a rifle which would increase the fire power of the army he said.

Discussing Israel sawn armaments industry, Mr. Peress said it had increased its productivity and its overall production and that it was producing several million pounds worth of munitions annually, aside from arms produced for export. The industry had acquired some new patents and was producing artillery shells. Also, he disclosed, the cornerstone of a network of jet engine maintenance and repair bases had been laid.

POSSIBILITY OF DEVELOPING LONG-RANGE ROCKETS REPORTED

Mr. Peress spoke of the efforts invested in research for military purposes and in exploiting scientific developments in the field. He said that the recent discovery of oil in the Negev and the production of uranium from phosphate ores would contribute to this development. Israel has engaged in rocket research, he revealed, and there are possibilities of its developing bigger, longer-ranged and more powerful rockets.

He criticized British newspapers and public figures who hit France for selling Israel arms. It was the British who were responsible for this situation because they first introduced new weapons into the Middle East by selling them to the Arab states, he said.

Premier-designate David Ben Gurion, who also spoke at the meeting, praised the “encouraging progress” of the defense organization, both qualitatively and quantitatively. He said that while Israel’s equipment was inferior to that of the Arab armies, the Israel army was superior in manpower and quality. Another speaker was the Acting Chief of Staff of the army, who also reported on arms acquisitions and the local arms industry.