Acting Premier Yigal Allon said last night that Israel need have no regrets over its acceptance of the Suez cease-fire because it is militarily stronger now than it was three months ago when the truce went into effect. Mr. Allon, who addressed members of the Labor Alignment’s Knesset faction, was apparently referring to the new supplies of arms Israel has received from the United States since the truce began to counter the Soviet missiles introduced by Egypt into the truce zone. The Acting Premier said that if he had a choice between the pre-cease fire situation without the missiles and the situation now, he is not sure which he would prefer. He added, however, that this did not imply acquiescence in the Egyptian cease-fire violations. But some observers, recalling recent statements by Defense Minister Moshe Dayan on the enhancement of Israel’s military strength since the cease-fire, detected a possible move to soften Israeli opinion for an eventual compromise over the Egyptian violations. Mr. Allon said he thought the Egyptians would continue the cease-fire on a de facto basis beyond its Thursday (Nov. 5) expiration time because the new Egyptian regime was weak and needed some time to consolidate its position. He warned however that the Egyptians could not indefinitely continue the present situation of no war and no peace talks. Sooner or later they will have to take a step toward a decision, he said.
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.
