Israeli officials were pondering three possible developments today in the aftermath of the collapse of Secretary of State Henry A, Kissinger’s step-by-step peace efforts. They are the resumption of terrorist warfare, organized and supported mainly by Syrian a new war of attrition on the Syrian front and possibly the Egyptian as well; and a new outbreak of full-scale hostilities launched by Syria and involving Egypt and possibly other Arab states.
The last and most dangerous of the possibilities–though probably not the most likely to occur–is being given serious attention by Israel because of the heavy re-armament of Syria by the Soviet Union and the resumption of Soviet arms shipments to Egypt. Both countries are known to have emphasized their war option during the 15 days that Kissinger was conducting his “shuttle” diplomacy.
Large quantities of Russian weapons have reached Egypt in recent days, Israeli sources said. They include the highly sophisticated MIG-23 jet interceptors; the latest model MIG-21s which are the backbone of the Egyptian air force; the newest Soviet T-62 tanks and an arsenal of tank-destroying and anti-aircraft missiles.
FEAR TERRORIST UPSURGE
Israeli sources say that military cooperation between Egypt and Syria has tightened in the past few weeks despite attempts by both countries to create the impression of a rift between them. For this and other reasons, Israeli officials are not dismissing the possibility of a fifth Middle East war launched by Syria and Egypt as a means of breaking the political impasse created by the failure of Kissinger’s peace mission.
Israeli forces, while prepared for a full-scale war or a limited war of attrition, are considered more likely to have to contend with an upsurge of terrorist activity. The Syrians are expected to open the lines for terrorist incursions and sabotage against civilian and military targets in Israel. They are expected to furnish the necessary equipment for terrorist actions based in Lebanon and Jordan.
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.
