Peres Praises Armed Services

Defense Minister Shimon Peres praised the efficiency of the armed services and, while conceding that certain shortcomings cited in a report by State Comptroller Itzhak Nebenzahi last week existed, he stressed that they must be put “into perspective.” Peres, who has assumed the duties of Premier, spoke Monday at a special session of the Knesset called by Likud to discuss charges of negligence in army storage and maintenance procedures contained in the Comptroller’s report.

Peres lashed out at “certain politicians” who he said, were trying to use the report as ammunition in the election campaign. He said the special Knesset session was uncalled for. He also charged that the Comptroller deliberately selected for inspection certain units that the army acknowledged were below par because they were “still in the process of formation.”

He said he did not dispute the Comptroller’s right and duty to scrutinize the army but stressed that the army itself regularly inspected all units and found the vast majority of them satisfactory.

Peres also pointed out that since the Yom Kippur War the army increased its manpower by 40 percent, its mobile artillery by 100 percent, combat aircraft by 50 percent, tanks by 50 percent and armored personnel carriers by 1000 percent. Under such intensive development, storage and maintenance problems could not be avoided, he said.

BEIGIN DEMANDS CORRECTIVE STEPS

The special Knesset session marked the return to the political fray of Likud leader Menachem Beigin who has been absent for nearly two months recovering from a heart attack and pneumonia. He looked pale and weak but his oratory was as fiery as ever.

Citing the Comptroller’s report and what he termed the “complacent” reaction to it by the army high command, Beigin said that instead of “exaggerated self-confidence,” the situation demanded “humility, contrition and a determination to put right what has been found at fault.” He and Peres agreed to refer the matter to committee for a detailed examination.