The Egyptian Government, abetted by the local press, was generating a war scare deliberately among the populace, in order to impress the Big Four powers, especially the United States, that a major new war in the Middle East could be touched off at any time, the London Times reported from Cairo yesterday. The paper said the crisis atmosphere, following four major artillery battles across the Suez Canal last week, was intended by President Gamal Abdel Nasser to arouse Egyptians to demand vengeance against Israel.
Among the measures taken, according to the Times dispatch, were a black-out of government buildings which was extended to blocks of apartments and shops, construction of more air raid shelters, and preparation of a civil defense alarm system throughout Egypt. The Times said that Egypt’s efforts to convince the U.S. that the crisis was worsening will be supported by King Hussein of Jordan when he meets with President Nixon in Washington shortly.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.