Tension grows as troops man Golan Heights

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33694, 18 November 1974, Page 1

Tension grows as troops man Golan Heights

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

CAIRO, November 17.

Tension is growing over the build-up of Syrian and Israeli troops along the border between the two countries.

President Sadat of Egypt has warned President Ford of the United States and the Soviet leader, Mr Leonid Brezhnev, of the danger on the Syrian front since the recall of Israeli reserves.

The Israeli Minister of. Defence (Mr Shimon Peres) has admitted to a “certain mobilisation”; and the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, Mr Yasser Arafat, has accused Israel of preparing a “pre-emptive strike” against her Arab neighbours.

The authoritative Egyptian newspaper, “Al Ahram,” said that President Sadat, in messages handed to the appropriate ambassadors, drew the attention of Mr Ford and Mr Brezhnev to the tension on the Syrian front since the recall of Israeli military reserves and Israeli troop movements along the ceasefire line.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister (Mr Ismail Fahmi) summoned the British, French, and Chinese Ambassadors to explain Egypt’s concern at events on the Syrian front. The newspaper, “Al Akh-

bar”, said that the Egyptian War Minister (Mr Ahmed Ismail) conferred last night with the Soviet Ambassador (Mr Vladimir Polyakiv) for 90 minutes over the build-up. Mobilisation Israelis relaxed slightly today after 36 hours of tension during which they closely followed hourly radio broadcasts for news of developments on the frontier with Syria. Tourists were allowed to visit the Golan Heights yesterday, and last night Mr Peres, looking calm during a television appearance, told the nation that he expected any developments in the near future to be political rather than military. Explaining what he called

precautionary measures by Israel along its borders and a “certain mobilisation,” he said the moves were in response to doubts about Syrian intentions and to threats from Damascus that it might not agree to extending the mandate governing United Nations disengagement observers on the northern front, due for renewal on November 30. “Aggressive” The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Syria (Mr Abdel Halim Khaddam) said yesterday: “During the last 24 hours, Israel stepped up its tendentious campaign against Syria aimed at misleading world opinion and covering up its aggres-, sive designs.” Mr Khaddam said, "Byi, fabricating this uproar, Israel aims at paving the way for a new aggression against Syria under the pretext that Syria is preparing for military action against it. “The aim of all this is to cover up its domestic problems, which threaten it daily. Syria, in exposing to world public opinion again the real aggressive designs of Israel, wants to make clear its commitment to the cease-fire and affirm at the same time that it will forcefully and with determination repulse any Israeli aggression.” Riots The Palestinian guerrilla leader, Mr Yasser Arafat, told a press conference in Havana that the Israelis were preparing “a pre-emptive strike” He said Israel, with the active support of the United States, was considering the use of nuclear weapons.