1.
GV: Premier Menachem Begin, Deputy Premier Yigael Yadin, Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan in Knesset.
0.11

2.
SV PULL BACK TO GV MP Yossi Sarid presenting motion on Ethiopia, speaking in Hebrew.
0.32

3.
SV: Dayan seated listening to Sarid.
0.38

4.
GV: MPs listening to Sarid speaking.
0.43

5.
GV PAN ACROSS: Knesset TO Dayan speaking.
1.02

6.
SV ZOOM IN TO SCU Dayan speaking.
1.17

7.
SV: Begin listening to Dayan.
1.20

8.
SV: Opposition leaders Shimon Peres and Abba Eban seated listening.
1.26

9.
SV PULL BACK TO GV Dayan leaving rostrum.
1.31

10.
GV: MPs in Knesset
1.44


Mr Sarid also claimed that Israel had lost its only friend along the Red Sea coast. Although Ethiopia did not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, most of her oil and other strategic supplies came through Ethiopia.




Initials RH/0045



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In Jerusalem, Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan has dismissed Opposition demands for his resignation after he disclosed that Israel has supplied military aid to Ethiopia. He was replying to an urgent motion in the Knesset by Opposition MP Yossi Sarid.

SYNOPSIS: General Dayan's disclosure to a television reporter has embarrassed the government of Premier Menachem Begin because Ethiopia's main support in its war against Somalia comes from the Soviet Union.

In presenting his motion Mr Sarid claimed that General Dayan had done irreparable harm to Israel's national security interests in disclosing the move. He did not go into details, but he added that every Israeli would be shocked if the details were known.

After General Dayan's interview Ethiopia suspended trade relations with Israel and expelled Israeli nationals at the demand of the Soviet Union.

In reply to Mr Sarid, the Foreign Minister said he had made his disclosure in order to correct exaggerated foreign reports about Israeli aid. He said the reports maintained that Israel had supplied planes, intelligence services and other services to Ethiopia, although in fact only a small quantity of weapons had been provided at Ethiopia's request. General Dayan said he had wanted to establish the truth about Israel's position.

Foreign press reports said Israel had supplied cluster bombs, napalm and ammunition among other weapons. But in his interview General Dayan maintained that neither Israeli pilots nor planes were involved. The interview caused surprise in Israel because of the role played in Ethiopia by the Soviet Union and Cuba, two countries which have poor relations with Israel.