Jordan Seen As Threat in All-out War, but Not in Limited Fighting

Jordan was viewed here today as a military threat to Israel in the context of an all-out war with both Egypt and Syria involved. But it was felt that Jordan would be unlikely to launch hostilities alone, and would be unlikely, too, to join a war initiated by Syria so long as Egypt did not join it. This view was offered as military sources expressed their concern at Jordanian troop movements and the army reported it had taken action to closely watch developments and avoid any possibility of Israel’s being taken by surprise.

Belief was expressed that it was unlikely that Jordan would allow a significant Syrian armed presence on her soil. The traumatic divisions of the past between the Jordanians and the Syrian Baath were still too fresh to permit that kind of intimacy, it was felt. There could, however, develop a situation in which Jordan would host a token force of Syrian troops as a symbol of the ongoing reconciliation between, the two countries and of Jordan’s new resolve to present a bellicose image and take a more active role in the confrontation with Israel.