COMMENTS BY SOVIET OFFICIAL ON THE POSSIBLE RENEWAL OF ARAB-ISRAEL HOSTILITIES

Created: 2/14/1968

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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OIST8 COUNTHY ARAB STATES/ISRAEL/USSR OOt 8

SUIltCT COMMENTS BY SOVIET OFFICIAL ON THE POSSIBLE RENEWAL OF ARAB-ISRAELI HOSTILITIES AND SOVIET INTENTIONS

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COMMENT: THE FOLLOWING REPORT IS

THE FIRST INFORMATION RECEIVED

REGARDING SOVIET PLANS TO PARTICIPATEIMITEDAGAINST

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SOVIETS NOWENEWAL OF ARAB-ISRAELI HOSTILITIES WILL

OCCUR IN LATE SPRING. m%mmmmmmmmmmW HOS1 ILITIES

ARE INEVITABLE SINCE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TOEHICLE FOR

NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE ISRAELIS AND THE ARABS.

COMMENT: IMILAR REPORT FROM THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN BEIRUT

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REPORT,m%mm%mm9

fBLtlBliilBBV EGYPT WASIMITED ATTACK AGAINST ISRAELI FORCES EN LATE FEBRUARY TO DRIVE THE ISRAELI FORCES BACK "THREE OR FOUR MILES" FROM THE SUEZ CANAL.

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ATED ANOTHER REPORT ON,fttf(r,

POSSIBLE RENEWAL OF HOSTILITIES flp> RECEIVED IN LATE JANUARY

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THAT THE UAR IS PLANNING TO RESUME HOSTILITIES BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME PESSIMISM OVER THE SUCCESS OF THE MISSION OF UN SPECIAL ENVOY GUNNAR JARRING. MINISTER OF WAR FAWZI REPORTEDLY FAVORS AN ATTACK8 WHILE PRESIDENT NASIR PREFERS AN EARLIER DATE, LATE MARCH OR EARLY APRIL. IF POSSIBLE. IN VIEW OF THE LACK OF IDENTIFICATION OFJJjyjJJJJJjJJJJJJJpj^HpyOR MANTS, THE REMARKS ATTRIBUTED TO THE UAR LEADERS SHOULD BE TREATED WITH CIRCUMSPECTION.)

PREVIOUSLY SOVIET ADVISORS

tfB STAYED INIMITED ROLE

IN SHAPING AND ORGANIZING ARAB ARMIES, THEY ARE NOW ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN REORGANIZING ARAB FORCES AND ENGAGING IN SOME COMMAND FUNCTIONS, fmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm) WHEN THE FIGHTING IS RENEWED, THE SOVIETS WILL ACTIVELY AID THE ARABS IN GAINING BACK THE TERRITORY LOST IN THE7 WAR.

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stated soviet advisors wouldimited attack against israel for the sole purpose of improving egypt's bargaining position with israel. the same

ISlffJjVJfllilBBIilVHVHB also claimed that the Soviets were

the soviets

assisting the uar in planning and trainingesumption of hostilities.

have advised the uar they will support an attack against israel to recover the territory lost during the june war if diplomatic efforts fail; but the soviets made it very clear that israel is here to stay and that they will not acquiesce in or facilitate israel's destruction.

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INCIDENT

AMATICALLY DEMONSTRATED THAT THE UNITED

STATES HAS MADE IT CLEAR IT WILLOMMITMENT OF ITS

ELSEWHERE.

SOVIETS BELIEVE THAT

THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT INTERVENE ON ISRAEL'S BEHALF UNLESSHE7 BORDERS ARE CROSSED. IN VIEW OF THIS,

ARABS SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION TO

REGAIN THEIR LOST LANDS.

A REASSESSMENT OF SOVIET AND AMERICAN

'.' POWER POSITIONS

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1MAY RESULTAJOR ARAB MILITARY ; OFFENSIVE AGAINST ISRAEL BY

5. ^HBLJii5SJi*^: STATE ARMY NAVY AIR CINCSOUTH (PERSONAL)

Original document.

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