Israeli sources voiced satisfaction today at the absence of substantive criticism of Israel’s air strikes yesterday against terrorist bases in Lebanon and Syria. Instead of registering shock and indignation, the sources noted, governments and the press have treated the strikes as a necessary Israeli operation in the interests of security.
Even if headlines and world opinion opposed the raids, they added, Israel is convinced the action was necessary to protect “fundamental vital interests.” The sources contended that it was significant that Lebanon and Syria did not immediately demand an emergency Security Council meeting, as they have on previous Israeli raids.
The Israeli sources noted that the Arab attempt to “bury” the terrorism issue is failing in the wake of the three-week debate in the General Assembly, which was punctuated by repeated condemnation of terrorism. An international climate of concern for the problem has permeated the world community, the sources observed, and the Arabs have been put on the defensive.
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