DAYAN IN WEST BANK AREA, TALKING TO SOLDIERS AND LOCAL RESIDENTS; SOLDIERS CHECKING SACKS OF GRAIN FOR ARMS; DAYAN WAKING AROUND SETTLEMENT.




Initials CG/VS/JH/LAD



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Background: AS TENSION CONTINUES TO MOUNT IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WITH REGULAR REPORTS OF BORDER CLASHES BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HER ARAB NEIGHBOURS, ISRAEL'S MILITARY LEADER GENERAL MOSHE DAYAN VISITED AREAS ON THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK OF JORDAN ON WEDNESDAY (AUGUST 20).

GENERAL DAYAN VISITED THE WEST BANK TO TALK TO HIS MILITARY LEADERS IN THE AREA, AND TO SEE FOR HIMSELF HOW CONDITIONS ARE IN ONE OF ISRAEL'S KEY BORDER ZONES.

WHILE IN THE AREA, GENERAL DAYAN SPOKE IN ARABIC TO JORDANIANS TRAVELLING TO AND COMING FROM JORDAN UNDER THE UNITED FAMILY SCHEME AGREEMENT.

HE ALSO WATCHED ISRAELI TROOPS UNLOADING AND CHECKING SACKS OF GRAIN AND SUPPLIES WITH MINE DETECTORS TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO HIDDEN ARMS OR EXPLOSIVE DEVICES.

BEFORE LEAVING THE AREA, GENERAL DAYAN WALKED AROUND A NEIGHBOURING SETTLEMENT OF JORDANIANS, CHATTING AMICABLY AND ASKING WHETHER CONDITIONS WERE ALRIGHT FOR THEM.