Nixon Administration Convinced of Accuracy of Israeli Cease-fire Violation Charges

The Nixon administration was reported today to be convinced beyond reasonable doubt of the accuracy of Israeli charges of continuing Egyptian truce violations since the Middle East cease-fire went into effect Aug. 7. Detailed evidence, the fruits of intensive American intelligence gathering, was presented to President Nixon yesterday as he met with his top foreign policy advisors in the San Clemente summer White House to review the precarious Mideast situation. The evidence was said to consist chiefly of aerial photographs made by high altitude U-2 reconnaissance planes over the standstill cease-fire zone that parallels the Suez Canal. There was also what was described as electronic evidence. The data, interpreted for the President by experts, reportedly showed that there were two major high points in the Egyptian military buildup within the 30-mile deep cease-fire zone. The initial movement occurred during the night of Aug. 7-8 when the cease-fire became effective. The other occurred since then. The American evidence reportedly covers military activities in the zone up to two or three days ago. The nature of the activity revealed by the intelligence data apparently confirms Israel’s charges that the Egyptians have moved Soviet-made SAM anti-aircraft missiles into the 30-mile zone since Aug. 7. They have improved their military position in other ways as well in direct violation of the cease-fire terms accepted by Cairo and by Egypt’s chief backer, the Soviet Union.

Washington Post reporter A.D. Horne quoted today officials involved in compiling the American evidence. One said, “They (the Egyptians) are putting equipment in places where it was not before. There is no doubt that they are improving their position.” But the officials apparently did not think the evidence indicated that Egypt and the Soviet Union were preparing for an attack on the Israel-held Sinai peninsula. They were trying to obtain the best military posture possible in case the peace talks fail, according to these officials, Mr. Horne wrote. The evidence now in President Nixon’s hands constitutes a clear reversal of the U.S. position, announced by the State Department on Aug. 19, that there was no “conclusive evidence” of Israel’s charges of truce violations. There was no indication today of what the President planned to do about it, but apparently a new policy is in the process of formulation. The Senate late yesterday passed a $19.2 billion Military Procurement Authorization Act containing a clause that gives the President unlimited authority to authorize arms sales to Israel. An amendment by Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas that would have killed the Israel arms purchase clause was defeated 87-7. The military sales bill goes to a Senate-House conference committee after Labor Day. There is little doubt here that it will emerge intact.