1968_4_arabisraelwar

ISRAEL / 119
Hassanin Heikal, editor of al-Ahram and regarded as Nasser's confidant,
explained on the same day:
The closing of the Straits of Aqaba is not only a question of the passage of
shipping to Eilat, but much more. This is the first time we have succeeded by
force in changing the situation in the region. Therefore I say that Israel will
have to attack.
On May 28 Prime Minister Eshkol broadcast the text of a declaration
approved by the cabinet the day before. Drawing attention to the continuing
concentration of Egyptian troops in Sinai and the blockade in the Strait of
Tiran, it called the blockade "tantamount to an act of aggression against
Israel," and continued: "We shall defend ourselves against it in time of need
by virtue of the right to self-defense which is reserved to every State." The
cabinet, the statement continued, had given instructions for continued diplomatic
activity to induce effective measures by "international factors" to safeguard
free passage in the Strait, and laid down "lines of activity for the purpose
of removing the military concentrations from Israel's southern border,
protecting our sovereign rights and our security on the borders, and averting
aggression, so that we shall not have to act in self-defense with military
force."
On the following day Eshkol announced in the Keneset the mobilization
of the reserves, which, he said, "are ready and prepared today to frustrate
the enemy's design in all sectors and on all our borders." He reiterated Israel's
determination "to exercise freedom of passage in the Strait of Tiran and the
Gulf of Aqaba, and defend it in case of need" as "a supreme national interest
on which no concession is possible and no compromise is permissible." He
also expressed appreciation of the readiness of the United States, Britain and
other maritime states "to effectively support freedom of passage," and said
the government was waiting to see whether these countries would "carry
out and coordinate effective action to ensure that the Straits and the Gulf
shall be open to the passage of the ships of all nations without discrimination
within a short time."
On May 30 King Hussein of Jordan signed a pact with Egypt, placing his
forces under Egyptian control. Egyptian commando forces were flown to
Jordan and troops from Iraq, Algeria, and Kuwait were sent to Egypt during
the next few days. At the same time Saudi Arabian and Iraqi troops entered
Jordan and, on June 4, Iraq signed an agreement with Egypt similar to that
concluded by Hussein.
On June 3 Cairo Radio quoted an order of the day by General Murtaji,
commander of the Egyptian forces in Sinai:
The eyes of the whole world are upon you in your glorious war against Israeli
imperialists on the soil of your homeland. The results of this unique moment
are of historic importance for our Arab nation and for the Holy War
through which you will restore the rights of the Arabs which have been stolen
in Palestine and reconquer the plundered soil of Palestine.