issue date: july 29, 1959 world news: nasser threatens israel; other developments * african union urged * rhod
Issue Date: July 29, 1959
World News:
Nasser Threatens Israel; Other Developments
*
African Union Urged
*
Rhodesia Study Set
Challenges to Israel to resume its 1948 and 1956 battles with Egypt
were voiced by President Nasser and other United Arab Republic leaders
July 23-28.
Addressing an Alexandria rally celebrating the 3d anniversary of the
nationalization of the Suez Canal, Nasser asserted July 26 that if
another Israeli-Arab conflict occurred, "this time we will exterminate
Israel." Nasser, who described Israel as a "crime established by
treachery and imperialism," said that "if there is a challenge, then
we accept that challenge.... All the Arabs want a decisive battle."
The UAR had "defeated Britain, France and Israel 3 years ago" when
they attacked in the Suez Canal Zone, Nasser said. "We have never been
defeated with arms although we were defeated now and then with
treachery."
(Alluding to recent articles by General Moshe Dayan, former Israeli
Army chief of staff who had directed Israel's successful 1956 Sinai
attack, Nasser warned: "Moshe Dayan threatens to invade Sinai; let him
come--we are waiting for him." Dayan, currently a candidate for the
Israeli Knesset, had urged a policy toward the UAR of "meeting
hostility with hostility" but had barred as unfeasible an Israeli
invasion of Sinai or the Suez Canal Zone.) [See 1956 Middle East:
Israel Attacks Egypt; Other Developments]
Nasser, at July 28 land-distribution ceremonies near Alexandria,
reiterated his hopes for "a decisive battle with Israel to avenge
1948." He said: "Again we tell them, welcome to the battle if they
want it. In the last bout you attacked and we retreated because of
England and France, but this time we will get rid of Israel and the
problems of Israel."
Field Marshal Abdel Hakim Amer, UAR vice president and war minister,
told a Cairo military review July 23 on the 7th anniversary of the
Egyptian revolution that "if Israel attacks us at any point on our
borders, she must face total war." UAR weapons displayed included
nearly 200 Soviet-built MiG jet fighters and light bombers.
(Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesmen described the Nasser and Amer
speeches July 29 as "another attempt to improve Egypt's standing with
the other Arabs and help smooth up Nasser's...battered relations with
them.") [See 1959 Middle East: Iraqi Rebellion; Other Developments]