The extended cease-fire which went into effect along the Suez Canal at midnight (6 p.m. New York time) Thursday was quietly welcomed by Israeli troops on the front line. They were relieved as the guns remained silent after the original 90-day truce expired. They were also confident in the capacity of Israel’s vastly improved fortifications to withstand any assault by Egyptian forces whose strength was also beefed up by new Soviet weaponry. Israelis have indicated all along that they would observe the cease-fire after the Nov. 5 expiration deadline as long as the Egyptians observe it. They believe that Egypt wanted the truce extended because the post-Nasser regime is still insufficiently well entrenched to risk a renewal of warfare against Israel with all the risks it would entail including the new casualty lists. Israeli leaders were confident that Egypt would refrain from shooting. The midnight deadline found President Zalman Shazar, cabinet members, Chief of Staff Gen, Haim Bar Lev and other key officials attending the premier of the film “Forty-Two, Six,” a documentary on the life of former Premier David Ben Gurion. Mr. Ben Gurion was also present. Normal activity continued in Israeli cities and towns as the old truce expired and the new one came into effect with few people pausing to take notice.
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