Israel Denies Rumors It Plans Syrian Attack

Prime Minister Shimon Peres said today Israel has no intention of attacking Syria.

He blamed Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat for stirring up a war scare in the last two weeks by sending reports to Arab countries claiming Israel was planning such an attack.

“I can’t see immediate indications of a Syrian attack upon us and the Israeli position is clear: We have no intentions to attack the Syrians,” Peres said on Israel radio.

The Israeli prime minister also denied other reports he attributed to Arafat that the Soviet Union had intervened to persuade Israel not to launch a preemptive strike against Syria.

Referring to allegations that Syria was involved in an attempt to plant a bomb aboard an El Al jetliner in London last month, Peres said, “The Syrians apparently thought that they could get away with murder. . . . Syria has to make up its mind whether it wants to be recognized as next to Libya in her central role supporting international terror.”

But he gave no indication that Israel planned a reprisal.

CBS television and an Arab diplomat have reported Israel was preparing a major military strike in retaliation for the attempted bombing of the El Al jetliner.

Lt. Gen. Moshe Levy, armed forces chief of staff, said today there was nothing to suggest war was imminent. “I think the possibility is always there, but I don’t see anything special that marks this week as the chosen date for this attack,” he said.