MIDDLE EAST SITUATION REPORT NUMBER 105 (AS OF 0630 EST)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-544-2-30-2
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: June 15, 2010
• Sequence Number: 30
• Publication Date: November 5, 1973
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/15: LOC-HAK-544-2-30-2
25X1
.CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
5 November 1973
INTELLIGENCE MEIORANDUM
MIDDLE EAST
Situation Report Number 105
(as of 0630 EST)
THE MILITARY SITUATION.
(All times cited in military paragraphs are
Cairo/Tel Aviv time, unless otherwise specified.)
25X1
2. Israeli aircraft also were active on the-
an frc~rat this mornin ~
-Rainy
weather continues to hamper the movement of
ground force units on the front.
MORI/CDF -
C03362109
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/15: LOC-HAK-544-2-30-2
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/15: LOC-HAK-544-2-30-2
SOVIET AIRLIFT
6. - Soviet aircraft entered the airlift to.
the Middle East on 4 November. At 0600 this morning
no additional flights were known to be scheduled.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/15: LOC-HAK-544-2-30-2
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/15: LOC-HAK-544-2-30-2
9. .oscow radio yesterday broadcast a discussion
of the Middle East by an Izvestiya correspondent and
an Izvestiya commentator, T fie correspondent says that
the detente as gone through a serious trial, but that
consultations between the US and the Soviet Union. played
a positive role in the drafting of.a joint approach
to a cease-fire. If detente were as illusory an of -
fair as Peking continues to portray it, says the cor-
respondent, "it would have evaporated like a light
cloud."
SOVIET MIDDLE EAST COMMEXTARY
' ~YY pYr ~y~1Yl~r - ~~I YF~+~~ +/
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/15: LOC-HAK-544-2-30-2
 " .~ r r1 . ?y
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/15: LOC-HAK-544-2-30-2
10. The commentator, who was in the US at .the
time oe th? alert of US forces, says a majority of US
commentators linked the alert not with foreign policy,
but with the administration's.attempt to deflect pub-
lic attention from its domestic difficulties. The
commentator concludes that the "current complexity
of US domeatic political life" has left its imprint
on US Middle East policy,
25X1.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/15: LOC-HAK-544-2-30-2
 ,y.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/15: LOC-HAK-544-2-30-2
. 14. Arab oil ministers meeting in Kuwait last
night announced a 25-percent production cutback base.d
on September's production figures. Saudi Arabia, with
the 1Q-percent limitation announced in mid-October and
the additional embargoes of shipments to the US and
the Netherlands, had already reached the 25-percent
level, and the new formulation appears to strengthen
King Fay.sal's leadership role by committing the other
producers to match his cutback. The move may be de-
signed to bring countries such as Libya, Algeria., and
Iraq, which have not been rigorously -enforcing the
earlier limitation, into line. If adhered to, it
will increase the overall Arab cutback in November
by some five percent over that already in effect.
TORTURE OF ISRAELI POWs
1.5. The US Embassy in Amman relates an alleged
Syrian denial that Damascus has-been torturing. Israeli
prisoners. Rather, the Syrians charge, it has been
.the Moroccan forces, who reportedly suffered high
casualties during the fighting, who are guilty of
torture and even of mutilating dead Israeli soldiers.
25X1
25X1
__- r 4 .+`
ITALY: RELEASE OF TERRORISTS
16. An Italian Foreign Ministry official has
confirmed the release of two Arab terrorists that were
seized while preparing to shoot down an Israeli air-
liner near Rome last summer. The.other three plotters
are also likely to be released, he said. When arrested.
25X1
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/15: LOC-HAK-544-2-30-2
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/15: LOC-HAK-544-2-30-2
the five mew had SA-7 Strela rockets--reportedly re..
eeived thra gh the Libyan diplomatic pouch--which
they allegedly planned to fire at an El Al airliner
approaching Rome airport.
UNITED. NATIONS
17. The General Assembly's finance Committee
will consider this week plans for funding the UN
Emergency Force (UNEF). There are no available
funds azd without a special UNEF assessment the peace-
keeping operation could be threatened, as some of the
states now preparing to contribute troops want as
surances that the UN will, pay the salaries and expenses
of their units.
18. The USUN Mission. has found little support
for the proposal that WIEF costs be apportioned among
U.-t members 'according to the regular scale of assess-
ments. A Brazilian proposal, which appears to be
gathering support among the less developed countries-
(LDC), would assess. Security Council members for 70
percent of the total costs; the US and USSR would
contribute SO percent between them. Developed states
that are note
ma
p
nent Cauncil members would accept
28 percent of the co
t
a
s and LDCs would contribute
the
25X1
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/15: LOC-HAK-544-2-30-2
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/15: LOC-HAK-544-2-30-2
LATE ITEMS
21, The UN regional control center at Qantara
this morning ordered a UN patrol to proceed immediately
to an area southeast of Ismailia to investigate a re-
port that gyptiann forces .were advancing on Israeli
positions. Qantara warned the UN patrol that the Is.
raelis were getting "excited" and that there may be
a clash.
22. The commander of the Soviet Naval.forces in,
the Mediterranean arrived in the port of Alexandria
this morning aboard a submarine tender.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/15: LOC-HAK-544-2-30-2