Gen. Mordechai Gur, the Israeli Army Chief of Staff, warned over the weekend that Israel faced a potential new military threat from Saudi Arabia. Speaking on the Army Radio, Gen. Gur presented what he indicated was a preliminary estimate of Saudi Arabia’s growing armed strength.
He said the Saudis were proceeding at an impressive pace with the construction of bases in the northern reaches of their country from which they could menace southern Israel and Sinai. He also referred to the $756 million sale of American F-5E jet fighter-interceptors to Saudi Arabia which includes the training of Saudian pilots and technicians in the U.S.
Gur said, however, that the American aircraft sales to Saudi Arabia are not yet of any decisive importance as far as Israel is concerned. He did not refer to reports that the Saudis will be purchasing some $6 billion of U.S. military equipment over a five-year period which is said to include tanks, artillery and small warships. However, Gur did say that if the Saudian arms build-up continues it could become significant and was being closely watched by Israel.
Saudi Arabia was never seriously involved militarily in Israel’s wars with its Arab neighbors although it sent a small expeditionary force to Syria during the Yom Kippur War and presently has a similar force in Jordan on the southeastern shores of the Dead Sea, Gur noted.
LEBANON AS A ‘CONFRONTATION’ POWER
He said Israel was also keeping a close watch on Jordan’s army which he described as in good fighting shape. He said the recent supply of American F-5 fighters to Jordan by Iran, with U.S. approval, did not have a decisive effect on the Mideast balance of power. “But it must not be underestimated as an important part of the over all (armaments) process,” he said.
Referring to reports of a military agreement between Lebanon and Syria, Gur said that if the forces or weapons of any Arab state are deployed in Lebanon, Israel would have to treat Lebanon as a “confrontation” power, Just as it treats Egypt and Syria.
The Chief of Staff warned that any terrorist who crosses Israel’s northern border was “condemning himself to death.” He conceded, however, that the border was not hermetically sealed, meaning that infiltration was not totally impossible. But the Israeli Army has been successful so far in destroying almost all terrorist operations, 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.
