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Current Intelligence Weekly Summary
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
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2 THE WEEK IN BRIEF (Information as0 ESTar)
The Syrian army command, which has attempted since the break with the UAR last September to controldecisions, has forced out the Qudsl-DawaliDiand assumed direct power. Its initial communiques suggest that it contemplates resumption of certainmeasures and some Improvement of relations with Egypt. Pressure from radical elements In the officerajor cause of the army command's action, is likely to lead sooner or laterurther governmental shift to the left.
ISRAELI-SYRIAN TENSION Page
Syria and Israel continue to keep forces deployed in the Lake Tiberias area. Israel hasimited, selective call-up of reserves and has moved an infantry battalion, an artillery battalion,ank-destroyerinto the area north of the lake near the Syrian Although neither side seems likely at this time toajor attack, further clashes are likely.
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SYRIA
Syrian army command, which bas attempted since the break with the UAR last September to control government decisions, assumed direct power onarch, accepted the resignations of President Qudsi and the Oawalibl cabinet, and dissolved parliament. Army Chief of Staff zahr al-Din has advlHed
pTna^tnerewie no Wangein Syrian foreign policy and that new elections will soon be held. The tone of the army command's statementby Damascus Radio onarch suggests, however, than an important change isin Syria'swith Egypt, as welleftward shift from theQudsi-Dawalibi line in internal political and economic matters.
These prospectiveof policy are,ense, complementary. Be-endorsoment of the "socialist" approach, agricultural reforms, and industrial nationalizations instituted by Nasir in Syria will obviously help to pave the way for an improvement in relations between the two countries. The present tension between Syria and Israel is probably an important factor
in the army command's decision to tryetterwith Egypt. Conversely, suspicion in the army that the Dawallbi government bad gone too far in developing closer relations with Iraq hastenedall.
The command, after forcing Dawallbi out onarch,gave President Qudsi the opportunity to make two quick attempts touccessor cabinet. When Qudsi was unable to come upombination acceptable to key members of the command, the army leaders decided to take control.
Both the composition of and the pressure on the army command have changedsince last fall. Present members have become increasingly Involved with various Syrian political factions and increase-ingly subject to pressures from radical elements within the officer corps itself. The struggle for power within the army now seems likely to become more rather than less intense; the resulteriod of timeovernment further to the left, ammmmmmmmmmmmm'
ISRAELI-SYRIAN TENSION
and Israel continue to keep forces deployed in the Lake Tiberias area. Syria reportedly moved an additional tank battalion to the border areaarch. Israel hasimited, selective call-up of reserves and has moved an infantry battalion, anank-destroyer company into the area north of the lake near the Syrian border. Although neither side seems likely at this time toajor attack, further clashes are likely.
Onarch, Israel seemed to be trying to invite an Iterryboat, with only an armed launch as escort, to cruise about the area of the lake where the previous shooting exchanges between Syrian shore batteries and Israeli patrol and fishing boats bad taken place. The maneuver passed off without incident, however.
That same day an Israeli military representativethe assistant chief of staff of the United Nations
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Supervision(UNTSO) that large-scale military maneuvers will soon be held in northern Israel, but "well away from the Syrian frontier." These maneuvers are probably designed bothhow of military strength andeans of keeping units within easy striking distance of Syrian territory. Onarch the Israelis reportedlyrainingan paratroop unit.
The UN Security Council heard complaints from both Syria and Israel onarch and agreed to call for areport next week fromhief General von Horn.
Syria last week asked for an emergency meeting of the Arab League. However, thewhich continues to be under strong Egyptian influence, apparently did not push Itself to convene an extraordinary session; instead, "Israeli aggression against Syria" is to be discussedegular meeting of the league to be held at the foreign nioisters' level in Riyadh beginningarch.
Despite tho well-published Syrian-Iraqi accord and recent assurances of support for Syria by the Jordanian and Saudi governments, prospects for effective military cooperation by tho Arabagainst
been dimmedesult of Syria's breakaway from the UAR last fall. The Syrian army command, after its assumption of direct power onarch,tandard
yrian border area
call for positive steps to achieve Arab unity and for mobilization of all efforts "to liberate and recover usurped Palestine." However, its appeal for unity departed
significantly from the Dawalibi government's line by singling out "dear Egypt" as well as "brotherly Iraq" as the two most desirable allies.
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