Israel Repeat Promise On Nuclear Arms

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32354, 21 July 1970, Page 15

Israel Repeat Promise On Nuclear Arms

(N Z Press Assn—Copyright) NEW YORK, July 20.

The Israeli Ambassador to the United States (General Yitzhak Rabin) said yesterday that there were no nuclear weapons in the Middle East, and repeated Israel’s nromise not to be the first country to introduce them into the area.

“Israel is not a nuclear country.” General 'labin said He spoke during a television interview on N.8.C., “Meet the Press.” General Rabin, a lieutenantgeneral in the Israeli Air Force reserve, commanded the Israeli forces during the six-day war in June, of 1967

The Ambassador estimated that there were between 3000 and 4000 Soviet advisers,

technicians and instructors in the United Arab Republic, and 5000 to 8000 Soviet weapons experts. The main aim of the Soviet Union in the Middle East, he said, was to gain a hegemony and predominance in that part of the world, and, “if to achieve that goal, they must have war with Israel, they will not hesitate to do so." He added, however, that, “as long as the Soviets will not intervene by their own forces directly against Israel there is a possibility to prevent an all-out war.

“The Russian injection of thei>- forces into Egypt is not simply to protect the Egyptian population.” General Rabin said. He said that the Egyptians moved their Soviet-built missiles to within two miles of the Suez Canal last week and this proved the aim was “to carry out a policy of war of attrition that had been agreed to by the Soviets and the Egyptians.”

In Cairo newspapers dismissed reports that Israel had an atomic bomb or the ability to assemble one quickly as being part of a propaganda war waged by the United States and Israel. The authoritative “Al Ahram” said that reports from Washington were part of a “systematic scare campaign" by the United States and Israel.

“Algomhouria” newspaper said that the United States used the reports to wage a war of nerves against the United Arab Republic. It said that the United States wanted to raise Israeli morale after Egyptian air defences brought down raiding Israeli Phantom Jets.

“Algomhouria" columnist. Tahter Abdel, warned that “not only Israel could obtain the bomb.” He said that the Arab nation could withstand 10 bombs but Israel could not bear one.