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JERUSALEM, JULY 12, 2001 (CBS News) - Israeli generals are planning for a possible massive invasion of Palestinian territories if the current Mideast cease-fire fails, says a published report denied by Israeli officials.
The report, published by the Jane's Information Group in London, says the goal of the action would be to destroy Palestinian armed forces and the Palestinian Authority, forcing Chairman Yasser Arafat back into exile, as he was for 12 years after the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
The plan calls for air strikes by F-15 and F-16 fighter-bombers, a heavy artillery bombardment, and then an attack by a combined force of 30,000 men, including paratroopers, tank brigades and infantry, reports CBS News Correspondent David Hawkins.
Israel's Arab neighbors, Syria, Jordan and Egypt are expected to stay out of the fight — but the report considers the possibility that Iraq might try to intervene with troops, who would be destroyed by the Israeli airforce. It also states that Egypt could invade the Sinai peninsula, forcing Israel to call up its reserves.
The report indicates that Israel expects up to 300 of its troops to die in such an attack, with Palestinian deaths in the thousands.
The Middle East is one of the most heavily militarized areas of the world. Israel is second only to North Korea in the percentage of citizens in uniform — 33.4 out of a thousand. The following are based on 1997 figures from the State Dept.:
Israel
Troops: 185,000
Spending: $9.3 billion
Egypt
Troops: 430,000
Spending: $2.1 billion
Syria
Troops: 320,000
Spending: $3.4 billion
Iraq
Troops: 400,000
Spending: $1.2 billion
Palestinian Authority
Troops: approx. 41,000
The report, published by the Jane's Information Group in London, says the goal of the action would be to destroy Palestinian armed forces and the Palestinian Authority, forcing Chairman Yasser Arafat back into exile, as he was for 12 years after the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
The plan calls for air strikes by F-15 and F-16 fighter-bombers, a heavy artillery bombardment, and then an attack by a combined force of 30,000 men, including paratroopers, tank brigades and infantry, reports CBS News Correspondent David Hawkins.
Israel's Arab neighbors, Syria, Jordan and Egypt are expected to stay out of the fight — but the report considers the possibility that Iraq might try to intervene with troops, who would be destroyed by the Israeli airforce. It also states that Egypt could invade the Sinai peninsula, forcing Israel to call up its reserves.
The report indicates that Israel expects up to 300 of its troops to die in such an attack, with Palestinian deaths in the thousands.
The Middle East is one of the most heavily militarized areas of the world. Israel is second only to North Korea in the percentage of citizens in uniform — 33.4 out of a thousand. The following are based on 1997 figures from the State Dept.:
Israel
Troops: 185,000
Spending: $9.3 billion
Egypt
Troops: 430,000
Spending: $2.1 billion
Syria
Troops: 320,000
Spending: $3.4 billion
Iraq
Troops: 400,000
Spending: $1.2 billion
Palestinian Authority
Troops: approx. 41,000
