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Emerged from great danger, Golda says

By Jerusalem Post Political Reporter
October 26, 1973

TEL AVIV -Premier Golda Meir last night declared "we have emerged from a great danger" when referring to the U.S.-Soviet confrontations over sending Russian troops to the Middle East. Speaking to the joint meeting of the Alignment leadership here, she warned of the dire consequences that could have arisen if Israel had not accepted the cease-fire proposal.

She praised American aid to Israel, and said current developments had justified the government’s acceptance of the case-fire in 1970 which had enabled Israel to build up defense weapons.

Mrs. Meir declared that the Soviet Union was employing all the means possible in order to help those seeking Israel’s destruction, and highlighted the Soviet Union’s "utter and unrestrained brutality." The government had the courage to recognize that our only friend is the U.S.

Mrs. Meir declared that current Soviet threats were even much graver than those leveled by Bulganin against Israel in 1956, but the main difference was that today the U.S. was on Israel’s side.

Mr. Dayan stressed the importance of U.S. aid to Israel’s military effort, advising that if Israel had taken a pre-emptive strike it would have lost that all-important assistance. He also declared that if Israel had turned down the cease-fire proposal ’we would have been taking on a greater danger than we could afford.’

As to the military situation, Mr. Dayan said Israel was in superior tactical and strategic position. He cautioned his party leadership, ’We have to realize that we cannot achieve a decisive destruction of the Arab armies and their weapons mainly for political reasons. However, they were incapable of renewing their attacks on Israel.’

JPost Features AMOTZ ASA-EL: The big one The Yom Kippur War: The epic confrontation that transformed the Middle East ABRAHAM RABINOVICH: The height of hutzpa MOTTI ASHKENAZI: Just a scared soldier MEIR RONNEN: 'Sic transit gloria' YEHEZKEL DROR: Re-engineering history MARTIN VAN CREVELD: The last conventional war YOSSI KLEIN HALEVI: War and atonement HAIM SABATO: Days of Awe PINCHAS LANDAU: The rise and fall of oil From JPost Archives 7.10.1973 - Egyptian-Syrian attacks held 10.10.1973 - Israel regroups along the Canal. Syrians halted 9.10.1973 - Israel takes offensive, bitter battles raging. Syrian armored units bid to counter-attack 9.10.1973 - Many Syrians said fleeing on foot 9.10.1973 - 13-tank Yuval tells his story 9.10.1973 - Wounded tell of battle in Sinai 9.10.1973 - Yariv: No rapid conquest; Bar-Lev line is evacuated 14.10.1973 - Thrust into Syria widens over 21-kilometer front 14.10.1973 - Last Israeli strongpoint surrenders 15.10.1973 - 656 Israelis killed in eight days of war 15.10.1973 - Egyptian forces lose 200 tanks; drive on Damascus continues. Israelis beat back Egyptians 15.10.1973 - Arabs won't accept cease-fire: Decisive battle ahead - Dayan 17.10.1973 - Israel task force crosses Canal. Syria loses 105 tanks, 10 planes 17.10.1973 - Anti-aircraft missile batteries destroyed 19.10.1973 - Heavy Egyptian tank and plane losses as counter-attack fails 21.10.1973 - Israel forces widen Canal Bridge-Head 22.10.1973 - Israel expands bridgehead, downs 32 enemy aircraft 23.10.1973 - Shooting continues at Canal despite Israel-Egypt cease-fire 26.10.1973 - Emerged from great danger, Golda says 28.10.1973 - Israel, Egypt agree to meet on supplies for 3rd army, truce Non-military convoy to be sent 4.11.1973 - Government to probe questions about war, Bar-Lev believes 13.11.1973 - Sharon tells how he crossed the Canal 25.09.1998 - Shattered Heights: Part 1 25.09.1998 - A sober look at how the war was won 25.09.1998 - A victory remembered as a defeat 27.09.1998 - History may repeat itself 29.09.1998 - EDITORIAL: The watershed war 29.09.1998 - Two wars in one, vividly relived 2.10.1998 - Shattered Heights: Part 2 7.10.1998 - Egypt marks anniversary of Yom Kippur War 9.10.1998 - A Diary from Hell 11.10.1989 - Memorial service marks 16 years since Yom Kippur War 14.09.1994 - Another fiasco like 1973? 17.09.1999 - War and Lack of Inner Peace 11.10. 2000 - Barak preaches unity sermon to families of fallen 28.09. 2001 Debunking a myth: Dayan never feared Israel's 1.10. 2001 - Security checks delay start of Yom Kippur War memorial ------------------------------------------------------ [ Click Here to Start the Photo Tour ] ------------------------------------------------------