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Six Israeli Generals Attack Autonomy Plan As Dangerous to Israel’s Defense

June 12, 1980
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A group of six retired Israeli generals expressed “grave concern” over Israel’s ability to defend itself under terms of the Camp David agreements and urged the Israeli government to scrip plans for autonomy on the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The generals’ statement was released here by the Ad Hoc Committee for Settlement in the Land of Israel. Its organizer, Hadassah Marcus, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that she works closely with the ultra-nationalist Tehiya faction in Israel. She said that on a recent trip to Israel she was approached by the generals who asked that her group release their statement to the American media.

The generals claimed that “the autonomy plan as currently formulated, poses grave dangers to Israel’s survival.” They said that “Contrary to certain views now being raised in Western Europe and with some support in the United States, it is our considered judgement that without Israel’s present borders, the Israel Defense Forces will be unable to safeguard the State of Israel and assure its independence.”

The signatories of the statement are Gens. Aharon David; Don Laner; Benny Peled; Don Talkovsky; Avraham Yoffe, and Meir Zoreah.

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