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OCI NO. 20
Intelligence Weekly Summary
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
COWnPENTlAi,
RELEASABLb TO FOREIGNCQNTRQI
THIS MATERIAIXX)NTA1NS INFORMATIONTHE NATIONALrJOTENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANINGNQF THE ESPIONAGE LAWS,SC, SECTIONS, THEOR REVELATION OF WHIC-WUN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW.
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY0
THE WEEK IN BRI
PARTF IMMEDIATE INTEREST
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PART II NOTES AND COMMENTS
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PART II (continued)
During the past few days, Arab newspapers have begun apropaganda campaign against Israeli activity in nucleardevelopment. The Arab press reaction includes strong attacks
against France and the United States for aiding the Israeli effort.
Arab press coverage began on 17 December when Beirut
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Moscow, in Arabic broadcasts, has accused the Westernthe Unitedfor "placing atomic weapons in the hands ofhe Soviet broadcasts allege that this is an attempt to use Israel, "the only pillar for the United States in the Middleo frighten the Arab and African peoples and "compel them to give up the struggle for freedom and national independence."
The Israeli Atomic Energy Commission has denied thatis engaged In theof atomic weapons and has claimed that Its nuclear research program is intended only for the purposes of industry,medicine, and science. Prime Minister Ben-Gurion stated onecember that the "so-called secret" reactor being built in the Negev is "dedicated entirely to peaceful purposes" and is due for completion in three or four years.
newspapers pickedtory carried the day before in the London Dally Express. Amman radio on lit December suggested that the report that Israel was making an atomic bomb might have been planted by Tel Avivsychological warfare measure, rtmman added, however, that the Arab states must "base their offensive and defensive policies on the assumption that if Israel doos not have the bomb now, it may have it in the future."
The Cairo newspaper Al-Ahram, which is edited by aof .'resident Nasir,up Western press reporting on the subject and said that if Israel's production of an atomic bomb is merely talk in other capitals, "it constitutes in our Arabuestion of life or death." The paper claimed that if Israel does get an atomic bomb, the UAR will get one too, "whatever theaghdad radio has asserted that ail the "imperialistnd not France alone,arefor helping Israel develop an atomic bomb.
Lebanese press commentary has been typically impetuous. One paper advises that theimmediately be raised at the United Nations. Another suggests that the time lit fast approaching for Arab military action against Israel; it also urr*es the UAR to "carry out the necessary contacts with the Soviet Union to obtain atomic bombs, because we cannot afford to allow the balance of power between us and the enemy to be disturbed inangerous manner." Prime Minister 3alam, replying onecember to members of the Lebanese parliament, said that hisshared their concern over "this latest Zionist menace" and was consulting with other Arab governments aboutcountermeasures.
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