Israel’s need for a regular army on the alert and a disciplined, trained reserve consisting of every Israeli citizen was stressed today by Premier David Ben Gurion, in an address to the entering class at the Army’s infantry officers training school.
Premier Ben Gurion emphasized that the regular army and reserves must be prepared” to meet new attacks from the Arabs who “have not given up the fight.” He said that the new state must continue military education despite the high cost to the civilian population. He stressed, however, that the government’s policy is one of peace and added that Israel will not join with warmongering nations.
Replying to a question raised in the Knesset, the Premier revealed today that the military administration of several parts of Israel will be ended soon and responsibility for security in these areas will be placed in the hands of the police.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.