Peres: Israel Will Be Virtually Self-sufficient in Arms Production Within Decade

One of Israel’s leading armaments experts predicted that his country would be virtually self-sufficient in the production of arms and ammunition within a decade, including combat jets. Shimon Peres, Minister of Immigrant Absorption and a former Deputy Minister of Defense made his forecast in the course of an interview with JTA editor S.J. Goldsmith here. He said that arms self-sufficiency “would make life so much easier on the foreign policy level” by reducing foreign pressures and enabling Israel to “make decisions more true to Israel’s own vital interests.” Mr. Peres conceded that there were two major problems to be overcome on the road to arms self-sufficiency– the problem of technical know-how in a highly sophisticated industry and the problem of finance. But, he said, both of them were “soluble.” “The Swedes have done it, and we can emulate their example profitably,” Mr. Peres said. “In some ways we have already followed them on this road. They have produced their own jets, and so have we.” He said Israel now produces sufficient ammunition to cover its own military needs and a surplus for export. The Israeli Cabinet minister disclosed that Israel has received “several large contributions” toward the implementation of a plan he devised to improve the condition of Arab refugees in the occupied territories. “I can say no more, the contributors are entitled to their anonymity,” he told the JTA editor. Mr. Peres is visiting London in connection with his new book, “David’s Sling,” which will be published June 25 simultaneously in England and Israel.