An Israel Army spokesman, commenting on Cairo radio reports that heavy tanks are en route to Egypt and that heavy bombers would soon be on their way to Cairo following Britain’s alleged decision to lift the Middle East arms embargo, said today that “it is perhaps not so strange a coincidence that Arab threats of renewed war against Israel should coincide with news of heavy armament supplies to the Arabs.”
Noting the Arab league announcement that the Arabs would renew the war against Israel if their demand for repatriation of Arab refugees was not entertained, the Israel spokesman also cited Damascus reports that “leaders of the Palestine refugees” were expected to call a “march on Israel by refugee families.” The Israeli pointed out that under terms of the armistice agreements, it was the responsibility of the Arab states to prevent Arabs living within their borders from cressing the frontiers to Israel.
“If this were not done, it is hardly likely that Israel could remain a passive observer of such breaches of the armistice agreements,” the Israel spokesman added. He said further that the “man in the street wonders whether the same Arab leaders who are now inciting the refugees to storm Israel’s borders would be in the first ranks to march on Israel.”
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