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On the eve of the
Six day war, Israel appeared to be isolated. On May 28, 1967
Israeli Prime Minister
Levi Eshkol delivered this address to the
nation. The text had been prepared by others and he read from a typescript in which there was a handwritten correction, without his glasses.
Supposedly, he asked for clarification of a word and this was heard as "stuttering." This "stuttering" induced panic, and forced
Eshkol to include Moshe Dayan
as defense minister in his government.
Copyright
The introduction above is copyright 2008 by Ami Isseroff. The
translation below is copyright 2008 by Ami Isseroff and Zionism-Israel.com. Except for brief citations, no part of this
work may be reproduced without permission. Please feel free to link to link to this page, but do not copy it to your Web
site, and do not use it in a printed work without obtaining written permission.
Dear citizens:
The government today met to discuss the situation. At the
conclusion of the discussions the following resolutions were accepted:
1. The danger to Israel owing to the concentration of the
Egyptian army in Sinai and following the blockade of Israel shipping in the Red Sea is in full force. In view of this
danger, as long as it exists, the need remains to continue our military alert. The government received a report on the
measured of preparedness that had been taken, and it concludes, that the IDF is properly deployed to defend the security
of Israel. The government notes with satisfaction the indomitable spirit of the nation and of the Israel Defense forces,
which are an expression and a guarantee of the strength of the state.
2. The government of Israel maintains that the closure of the
straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping is equivalent to an act of aggression against Israel. We shall defend ourselves
against it when necessary based on the right of self defense that is reserved to every state.
3. The government heard a report of the Foreign Minister
concerning his discussions with the President of France, the Prime Minister of Britain and the President of the United
States. It heard of contacts with many other states, including the Soviet Union, and on the growing willingness in the
international arena to act without delay for rapid removal of the blockade that Egypt has imposed in the straits of
Tiran. There is no doubt that the mobilization of the IDF and its readiness for every test were and are a crucial factor
in motivating world diplomatic activity.
The government has specified guidelines for continuation of
the diplomatic activity in the world arena, with the aim of pressing international powers to take steps to secure
international freedom of navigation in the straits of Tiran.
Likewise, directions of activity were specified for removing
the military concentrations from Israel's southern border and for action to secure our sovereign rights, for our border
security and for prevention of aggression, so that we shall not have to act for our defense using our military forces.
The government has concluded and announces, that the power of
the IDF is sufficient to overcome any aggressor and to secure the sovereign rights of Israel.
Tomorrow I shall have an opportunity to clarify the stance of
the government in my speech before the plenum of the Knesset.
This document is at
Zionism and Israel Information Center - Historical Documents and References
General History of Zionism - Zionism and the
Creation of Israel
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