Maj. Gen. Uzi Narkiss said last night that Israel’s current military victory is far greater than it was in 1967 against the Arab aggressors. Appearing on Channel 5 Metro media TV, Narkiss told an interviewer that in 1967 Israel was not surprised by a sneak attack and that the hostilities lasted only six days. This time, Israel was surprised and it took the Israeli armed forces two days to counter-attack and take the offensive which it then continued to hold, he said.
Narkiss, who is the special assistant to Israel’s Chief of Staff Gen. David Elazar, was asked by the interviewer to assess the fighting capabilities of the Egyptians and Syrians. He responded by noting that many people forgot that the Arab armies in 1948 “fought very well. In 1967, when they were on the offensive they did very well and scored many successes. People only remember the smashing end of our victory and forget that in the first days they fought well. In this war, some of their units also fought well and some very well.”
Earlier last night, at a press conference at the Israeli Consulate in New York, Narkiss described the cease-fire as “good for Israel because we are first and foremost opposed to killing.” Referring to the Israeli POWs he expressed hope that they will be returned “as the cease-fire takes hold.”
Narkiss, who came to this country for a short visit to speak on behalf of the Israel Bond Organization, said that there are some 360 Israeli POWs in Egypt and Syria. He stated that the POWs are being mistreated, especially so in the first few days of the war. He affirmed that Israel has provided “good conditions” for the more than 1300 Arab POWs.
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