INTELLIGENCE REPORT PREPARED WEEKLY FOR THE SENIOR INTERDEPARTMENTAL GROUP

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A001100010040-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 1, 2006
• Sequence Number: 40
• Publication Date: August 22, 1966
• Content Type: IR

Approved For Release-2007/03/06: CIA-RDP7.91Q a D1"_1.r0010040 9
22 August 1966
No. 1864/66
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Copy No. ' ~ L+
INTFILL1UENCF: RETORT
State Dept. review completed
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I)IRECIORA"IT OF IN II'll LLIGENCE
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This document contains information affecting the
national defense of the United States, within the
meaning of Title 18, sections 793 and 794, of the US
Code, as amended. Its transmission or revelation
of its contents to or receipt by an unauthorized
person is prohibited by law.
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C O N T E N T S
Page
1.
Israel-Syria. . . . ? ? ? ? ? ? . . .
1
South Africa. . . . . . . . ? ? ? ? ? . ?
2
4.
Dominican Republic. . . . . . . . . ? ? ?
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The increasingly belligerent posture adopted
by both Israel and Syria in the wake of the 15 Au-
gust border clash may lead to further and more
serious exchanges.
The latest incident, in which two Syrian MIGs
were shot down, apparently began when an Israeli
patrol boat fired on Syrian positions before run-
ning aground about 50 meters off the eastern shore
of Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee). The Israelis,
who claim the entire lake, had refrained from ap-
proaching closer than about 250 meters to shore
since 1962. Following this incident, the Israeli
chief of staff authorized "hot pursuit" in future
air encounters.
In recent months Israel has adopted a harder
line toward Syria regarding the activities of Fatah
terrorists. On 14 July, in retaliation for a se-
ries of border incidents, Israeli planes destroyed
equipment at the site of the Syrian water-diversion
project in the area east of the lake.
Israeli troops had previously made reprisal
raids against alleged Fatah bases in Jordan and
Lebanon, whose governments oppose the terrorist
operations. The 14 July incident was the first
time that Fatah actions drew Israeli retaliation
directly against Syria, whose government has long
supported the terrorists by providing training fa-
cilities and a propaganda outlet.
Syrian authorities have now stated that Syria
will no longer resort to the United Nations, but
will strike inside Israel if there are further Is-
raeli "provocations." There is also the danger
that Syrian commanders on the border might permit,
or even encourage, infiltrations into Israel in
direct violation of orders from Damascus. The com-
manders might hope to exploit the subsequent ex-
change to satisfy their own ambitions in the un-
settled Syrian political situation.
I I
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2. SOUTH AFRICA
The Verwoerd government, buttressed by confi-
dence in its economic and military strength and by
its success in turning back recent external threats,
seems to be adopting bolder tactics in foreign af-
fairs.
Recent events in the Congo provide further evi-
dence of the same tendency. There the Verwoerd gov-
ernment appears to be operating with a sophistica-
tion totally lacking in the defensive-minded Afri-
kaner regimes of the past. Pretoria may in fact
have deliberately surfaced the recent coup plotting
involving Tshombe and Belgian business interests.
Verwoerd may thus have worked to preserve the posi-
tion of Mobutu and to keep out of power a man who
previously had been very close to the authorities
in southern Africa. This instance suggests that
South Africa may occasionally, in the interest of
stability, support Africans termed "moderate" by
the US.
Verwoerd has quite clearly
to en Britain's measure over Rhodesia, ana Unus
sees the US as the only country that might have
both the means will to intervene forcefully
in the region.
22 August 1966
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4. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
On 11 August President Balaguer called for a
vaguely defined political truce that would include
legislation banning certain political activities.
Balaguer's move could alienate moderate leftist
elements whose support he will need when he comes
out with controversial military and economic re-
forms.
Balaguer has stressed that the proposed law
will "permit and protect" both routine party ac-
tivity and "merciless" censure of his government.
He told US Ambassador Crimmins on 15 August that
the law was aimed at curbing recent extreme-left-
ist agitation. Balaguer has reassured the public
that he does not intend to return to Trujillo's
"peace of the graveyard."
Despite Balaguer's assurances, the intent of
the proposed law is not entirely clear.
a major purpose is psyc o ogica to
deter t e Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD)
from adopting a role of opposition for opposi-
tion's sake. Balaguer suspects that Bosch and
radicals in the PRD are not the "constructive
critics" they profess to be.
The reaction of the Dominican left to the pro-
posal is mixed. Some moderate leaders of Bosch's
party reportedly feel it to be "basically worth-
while" but in need of clarification. Bosch him-
self has asserted to US officials that Balaguer is
out to destroy the PRD. Extremists characterize
the proposal as dictatorial, and have challenged
Balaguer to enforce it..
One danger is that the loose wording of the
proposed law could be used by some police and mil-
itary elements to justify heavy-handed throttling
of the left. This in turn could lead to increased
leftist attacks on the regime.
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