Transcripts of the Security Cabinet

ג.1 | A meeting of a special committee of minsters appointed to deal with issues of civil disobedience in the territories (henceforth: Civil Disobedience Committee), August 7th 1967

The committee discussed three issues: 1. The General Strike which had broken out in East Jerusalem and how to deal with it. 2. The pace of allowing the return from Jordan of locals who had left during and after the war. 3. If and how to intervene in the content of teaching and school-books in the new territories.

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ג.2 | Security Cabinet & Civil Disobedience committee, 14 August 1967:

Faced with growing rejection to Israeli contents in schools it was decided to continue using the existing school-books, after censoring and re-printing books with particularly offensive content. It was decided to consider delaying the opening of the school year to allow time to reorganize.

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ג.3 | Security Cabinet, 14th August 1967:

Defense Minister Moshe Dayan requested authorization to construct permanent military bases on the Golan and West Bank, and also to set up a number of military settlements (Nachal). Some of the ministers pushed back and demanded the cabinet should first decide on Israel’s policy regarding the territories prior to creating facts on the ground. For lack of consensus the decision was postponed.

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ג.4 | Security Cabinet, 20th August 1967

The main discussion focused on the deteriorating situation of the Jews in Egypt, and various options to speed their exodus. There was a short discussion of the intention of Issar Harel, the former head of the Mossad, to publish a book about the capture of Adolf Eichmann, and a brief discussion about the numbers of residents of the West Bank who were returning there from the East Bank.

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ג.5 | Security Cabinet, 24th August 1967

The main discussion focused on the military abilities of the armies which had participated in the 6 Day War. It was reported that the Arab armies had all rebuilt their capacities and acquired new materiel. The IDF had redeployed its forces and begun  to use some of the equipment abandoned by the Arab armies, yet faced severe shortages with no country being willing to sell it new equipment.

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ג.6 | Civil Disobedience Committee, 3rd September 1967

Discussion of sanctions against two East Jerusalem school superintendents who incited against Israeli policies. It was decided to remove them from the city for three months.

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ג.7 | Civil Disobedience committee, 8th September 1967

A complicated discussion of education in the West Bank and East Jerusalem: Which ministry is responsible for what, what are the policies, who employs which educators, what happens with teachers who live in the West Bank but teach in Jerusalem, and so on.

Short discussions about distributing weapons to the Druze on the Golan and exiling additional inciters. A discussion of the policy of entering the Temple Mount. Finally, the ministers held a preliminary discussion about responding to requests by local Arabs leaders to begin talks.

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ג.8 | Security Cabinet, 13th September 1967

The Cabinet the blurred line between Israeli & Egyptian force at the southern end of the Suez Canal, and decided to convey Israel’s position via UN General Odd Bull. Then the situation of Jews in Arab countries was discussed. The Cabinet considered tying exchanges of POWs with Egypt and the departure of its Jews. Finally the Cabinet authorized the creation of two Nachal military settlements in Sinai, and postponed a similar decision regarding the Etziyon Block on the West Bank.

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ג.9 | Security Cabinet, 15th September 1967

Yet another discussion about the line between Israel and Egypt in the Gulf of Suez south of the canal. The Cabinet decided to convey to the UN the Israeli vessels would use the waters along the shore up until the exit from the canal. There was also a discussion of the rising resistance on the West Bank and methods to counter it.

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ג.10 | Joint session of the Security Cabinet and the Civil Disobedience Committee, 21st September 1967

Reports from the heads of the security agencies and the IDF about unrest in the territories and on the borders, including clashes along the Suez Canal. It was decided to enforce sanctions in the city of Nablus, and deport a prominent religious leader from Jerusalem. The meeting concluded with yet another discussion of Issar Harel’s book about Eichmann.

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ג.11 | Joint session of the Security Cabinet and the Civil Disobedience Committee, 27th September 1967

The heads of the IDF described the booty that was captured from the Arab armies and their efforts to integrate it. Then there was a discussion of the ongoing civil disobedience in the West Bank. It was decided to shorten the exile of Anuar el-Hatib in the expectation this would expedite opening the schools.

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ג.12 | Joint session of the Security Cabinet and the Civil Disobedience Committee, 1st October 1967

Gen. Ezer Weitzman, back from talks in the US, reported on the American position on selling arms to Israel. The IDF had severe shortages of arms after the war, and the Americans still had a policy of suspending arms sales. The education minister reported on the gradual return of normality to the school systems in the territories.

The ministers deliberated at length the efficacy and legality of tying POW swaps with Egypt to the freeing of 6 Jewish spies held in Egypt, and opening the gate to the exodus of the remaining Egyptian Jews, while faced with growing pressure from the parents of the Israeli POWs to bring their sons home. Finally, the ministers decided on further reductions of limitations on Israeli Arabs and on Christian Arabs in Bethlehem at Christmas.

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ג.13 | Security Cabinet, 2nd October 1967

The previous night an Israeli village had been attacked by infiltrators from Jordan. The Cabinet deliberated alternative responses, eventually deciding not to retaliate militarily; to lodge a complaint at the UN; and to authorize the PM and Def. Min. to respond with force should there be a further attack.

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ג.14 | Joint session of the Security Cabinet and the Civil Disobedience Committee, 11th October 1967

Report by the police about ongoing incidents and the additional resources needed to deal with them. Also, discussion of a case where two Border Police murdered two men from Ramallah.

Report and discussion of ongoing attempts to acquire weapons from Belgium, France and the US; the Cabinet decided to try the Belgian track since the others were blocked.

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ג.15 | Security Cabinet, 18th October 1967

Report and discussion about the balance of forces between Israel and Egypt. Moshe Dayan summed up by expressing his surprise Egypt had rebuilt its army so quickly, and by warning Egypt might launch a limited attack to retrieve territory. The ministers then had a long discussion on what borders to mark on official maps, and what not. For lack of unanimity the matter was referred to the full Cabinet.

A decision was made to cultivate empty areas in the Jordan Valley. No decisions were made on paving new roads in the West Bank. The Cabinet expressed displeasure at reports of price gouging on the recently-recovered Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives.

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