Israelis today saw their Government’s defense posture as fully justified, in the light of a revelation made yesterday in Damascus by Gamal Abdel Nasser himself, disclosing that he had planned an all-out, “decisive” attack against Israel several months ago.
Israel’s man in the street read the dispatches reporting Nasser’s speech in Damascus with a mixture of chagrin against Nasser’s readiness to attack, and satisfaction over Israel’s Government’s constant alert against just such a possibility. Referring to the incidents along the Syrian-Israel border last year. Col. Nasser said in his speech:
“We decided to enter a decisive battle against Israel if aggression continued,” he said. “We then asked Kassim, under the terms of our military agreement, to stand with us against Israel and send Iraqi army units, but Kassim refused. I sent Kassim two more messages on the same subject, but up to now he has not answered. We Knew we would be alone if we entered a conflict with Israel.”
Viewing the Nasser revelation with utter gravity. Israelis were nevertheless amused by his statement admitting that, alone, he does not dare stand up against Israel. The Israel press also noted Nasser’s statement, in which the Egyptian dictator said that the Soviet Union had not aided him during the Suez-Sinai crises in 1956. In the past, Nasser had praised the USSR volubly for its help in 1956.
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