Israeli forces on the Golan Heights took what were described today as precautionary measures aimed at meeting any eventuality should Syria refuse to agree to extend the United Nations presence in the region which expires Nov. 30, Military sources said the measures were not necessarily connected with any changes in the situation on the Golan where the Syrian army is continuing to build fortifications and beef up its defense lines. There have been no changes in the deployment of Syrian forces.
But tension continued to mount as the deadline approached with no indication from Damascus yet on the fate of the United Nations Disengagement Observers Force (UNDOF). Chief of Staff Gen. Mordechai Gur visited Golan Heights settlements yesterday to discuss security matters with the settlers. One of the settlements he visited was Ramat Magshimim where three student army reservist were murdered by Arab terrorists a week ago. The religious-sponsored settlement was also visited by Welfare Minister Zevulun Hammer of the National Religious Party who did a tour of guard duty during the night.
Premier Yitzhak Rabin, addressing a Labor Party meeting in Haifa last night, said that Israel asked UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim when he was in Jerusalem Tuesday to make it clear to the Syrians that if they refuse to extension the UNDOF mandate they would be solely responsible for any deterioration of the disengagement agreement that might follow. Rabin declared that Syria would not be doing Israel any favor by agreeing to an extension.
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