CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/05/23

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Keywords: 2018 Sanitization
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03150421
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: May 23, 1957

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23 May 1957
Copy No.
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CI-IANGE IN CLASS. 1K
0 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS, CEANGED TO: IS
NEXT REVIEVJ DATE:
ACT ap.
70-
REVIEWE
34
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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JEAANI., 1
Noe
CONTENTS
.70 1 ARAB JOINT COMMAND DESIRES TO AVOID MAJOR CLASH
WITH ISRAEL (page 3).
3 2. ISRAELI MOVES ON PASSAGE OF TIRAN STRAIT AND
SUEZ CANAL (page 4).
43. ISRAEL MAY REGISTER PROTEST WITH UN SECURITY
COUNCIL OVER NEW INCIDENT IN NEGEV
(page 5),
0) 4. IRAQI PRIME MINISTER OUTLINES FUTURE IFtAQI-SAUDI
MOVES (page 6).
lv 5. FRENCH APPARENTLY FAVOR COALITION GOVERNMENT
IN LAOS (page 7).
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1, ARAB JOINT COMMAND DESIRES TO AVOID MAJOR
CLASH WITH ISRAEL
The military position of Egyptian and
Syrian forces is such that any clash
leading to general hostilities with
Israel should be avoided before the
end of 1957,
Cairo
added, however, that this position wouia De reconsidered
in the light of the prevailing political and military situation
"if circumstances develop in such a way that an armed
clash with Israel is necessary to prevent her from attempt-
ing the project:'
Comment The "project" refers to Israeli irriga-
tion and power development schemes which
have been planned along the Jordan River between Syria and
Israel. In some areas, notably between Lake Hula and Lake
Tiberias, completion of the Israeli development projects will
require excavation and other work in the demilitarized zone
along the river. The most favorable season for this work is
now at hand. Syria warned last spring that it would fire on
Israeli workmen if projects were undertaken in the demilita-
rized zone. this year Damascus warned Cairo
that Israel might begin work in the demilitarized zone to pro-
voke the Syrian army into conflict.
Cairo has previously urged Syria to re-
frain from becoming involved militarily with Israel iri view of
its limited military capabilities.
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I'LL/MT-
2. ISRAELI MOVES ON PASSAGE OF TIRAN ST T AND
SUEZ CANAL
Comment on:
According to CINCNELM, Lloyds has
reported that the Israeli motor ship Atlit,
which has been scheduled as the first
Israeli-flag merchant vessel to go through
the Strait of Tiran to Eilat since the Israeli
evacuation of Sinai, left Durban on 18 May
for Lourenco Marques. On the basis of
this report, it is estimated that the Atlit
will not arrive at Eilat until between 7 and
17 June.
Press reports alleging that the Atlit had
left Djibou i and even had already passed the Tiran Strait are
probably part of an Israeli-inspired psychological warfare
campaign to provoke Egypt and Saudi Arabia into actions or
statements which would give Israel a diplomatic advantage on
this issue.
The Israelis apparently are pursuing a
similar tactic on the Suez Canal issue. The American em-
bassy in Paris has reported that an Israeli embassy official
there briefed selected correspondents on 20 May to the effect
that a canal test is imminent. He did not specify whether the
test would be made by an Israeli ship or an another vessel
carrying Israeli cargo. Israeli officials had assured the United
States last week that such press reports are "premature," and
that Israel had no present plans for a test.
The chief of the Israeli naval force told the
American naval attach�n Tel Aviv on 20 May that he expected
no military conflict with the Arabs over the canal or the strait
question at this time. The Israeli officer said he believed Nasr
had given the Saudis responsibility for defending the Tiran Strait,
r will use the Saudis as a scapegoat on this issue.
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UtFI VT 115E4 LT I 1111.4
Air.> Nue
3. ISRAEL MAY REGISTER PROTEST WITH UN SECURITY
COUNCIL OVER NEW INCIDENT IN NEGEV
The Israeli Foreign Ministry informed
the American embassy that Israel would
probably protest to the UN Security Coun-
cil concerning three ambushes which oc-
curred on the Beersheba-Eilat road in
the southern Negev Desert on 20 May. One Israeli was killed
and three were injured. The ministry reiterated that its
present policy is to call such incidents to the attention of
the Security Council in view of what it asserts is the inef-
fectiveness of the Truce Supervisory Organization.
Comment The projected Israeli protest is probably
planned as a counter to the Syrian protest
now before the Security Council concerning the possible mil-
itary significance of a bridge the Israelis are building at Lake
Hula.
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%se
4. IRAQI IRAQI PRIME MINISTER OUTLINES FUTURE
IRAQI-SAUDI MOVES
raq's Prime Minister Nun i Said informed
the American ambassador in Baghdad on
20 May that King Saud had suggested dur-
ing their recent talks that a declaration
by Moslem members of the Baghdad pact to the effect that it
is not aimed at any Arab country would considerably ease
Saudi Arabia's position in respect to the pact. Saud added
that an opportune time for such a declaration would be a Mos-
lem conference he intends to convene in the near future. Saud
has asked Syrian president Quwatli to describe the conference
to Nasr and to urge Nasr to apologize for recent Egyptian in-
trigues in Saudi Arabia. Saud wants it made plain to Nasr that
unless he first apologizes, Egypt will not be invited to attend.
When queried by the ambassador regard-
ing Iraqi plans for financial help to Jordan, Nun i replied that
Saud has exerted considerable pressure for Iraqi assistance
to Jordan. Nun i stated that Iraq is making available between
the equivalent of $2,800,000 and $4,200,000 "for economic pur-
poses," primarily for the superphosphate and potash indus-
tries.
Comment It has been reported earlier that Saud in-
tends to call a Moslem conference which
will put Nasr in the minority, if he attends, or isolate him if
he refuses an invitation.
Saud reportedly has already paid at least
half and possibly all of his annual share, amounting to
$14,000,000, of the Jordanian subsidy under the terms of
the Arab solidarity agreement. Since Egypt and Syria have
not paid their share, approximating $19,750,000, Jordan is
in need of funds to pay current government expenses. How-
ever, Iraq has been committed for some time to invest in the
Jordanian potash industry and any such payments at this time
will not relieve the Jordanian budget situation.
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5� FRENCH APPARENTLY FAVOR COALITION
GOVERNMENT IN LAOS
Comment
The French apparently are setting the
stage for Souvanna Phouma's "new" plan
for breaking the deadlock with the Pathet Lao which reportedly
continues to offer the Pathets participation in a coalition gov-
ernment. As in the past, they apparently are prepared to sac-
rifice Western unity in the hope of increasing their influence
in Laotian affairs through support of pro-French Souvanna Phouma,
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