Military experts of the 13 Arab states which are participating in the summit conference in Cairo to prepare plans against Israel’s project for bringing water from Jordan River and Lake Tiberias to the Negev today submitted to the conference a report on the outlook for military action against Israel. It was noted here that, at a military conference of the Arab states held last month, no unanimity on military action against Israel was reached because of a warning from the representative of Egypt.
Another report submitted in Cairo to the conference in Cairo today dealt with a plan by technicians of the Arab League to divert Jordan River waters before they reach Israel. It appeared that a plan of that nature is considered by some of the Arab refers as the best way to counter Israel’s water project. However, doubt was expressed in British circles today whether the Arabs would be prepared to invest $100,000,000 needed to carry out the diversion recommendation.
President Nasser of Egypt indicated in his opening address to the Arab meeting yesterday that he would propose a united Arab military command as an essential first step in Arab plans to counter Israel’s Jordan River irrigation project, it was reported here today from the Egyptian capital.
The last-minute announcement by President Chehab of Lebanon, that he was not attending the conference, was seen as “a sad omen” by some Arabs. It was noted that the Jordan River rises partly in Lebanese territory, and any plan to dam or divert the Jordan River would affect Lebanon first.
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