Possibility of Israeli Military Action Against Syria Seen

The Guardian, a leading British newspaper, suggested editorially today that the “abortive attempts” by the United Nations Security Council to deal effectively with Israel’s complaint against Syria “may be the last stage before Israeli diplomacy gives way to military action.”

The editorial stressed that since the latest series of guerrilla incursions “the Israelis have been playing it through the United Nations with little success.” After three weeks, the Security Council deadlock “continues and so does the terrorism.” The net result, the Guardian declared, was to confront Premier Levi Eshkol with “strong domestic pressure to counter-attack.”

Israel can probably count on western aid if it is invaded but its only remedy against terrorist attacks is military “self-help,” the Guardian declared. The instability of the current Syrian regime adds to the danger that Syrian Premier Zayyan “may not heed the clear warnings” that have already come from Israel. “If a massive Israel reprisal raid results in war, Jordan, as well as Egypt and Iraq may see no alternative but to join in.”

The Guardian expressed the hope that the Arab-Israel dispute, though as “intractable as ever,” could be at least contained, particularly since the Soviets “are hardly likely to want a war in the Middle East. There is still scope and time for an agreed neutralization of the area.”