Maj. Gen. Aharon Yariv, the retiring chief of military intelligence, said today that there was no way of eliminating Arab terrorism entirely but that it could be reduced to a minimum by counter-terrorist acts on a wide front geographically, employing a wide range of methods and means. He said Israel’s recent attacks on terrorist strongholds in Lebanon were Intended to force the Lebanese authorities to crack down on terrorists operating from their territory.
Meanwhile, Al Ahram, the influential Cairo dally, reported today that Palestinian terrorists In Lebanon agreed to suspend actions against Israel from Lebanese territory. According to the report the terrorists made this agreement with the Lebanese government to adhere to the 1969 Cairo accord, The provisions of that accord are not known.
Yariv addressed newsmen at a farewell press conference here marking his retirement after 31 years of service in Haganah and the Israel Army. He served as intelligence chief far the last eight years. He said the Soviet weapons airlift to Syria was a fact that the Russians made no attempt to conceal, and noted that Moscow wanted to strengthen Its position In Syria after the ouster of Soviet personnel from Egypt last July. He said there are already SAM-3 missile bases In Syria. Commenting on Western Intelligence reports that Soviet naval units have returned to Egyptian ports, Yariv said they didn’t have to return because they never left.
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.
