ISRAELI PATROL BOATS; BOATS PATROLLING; CREWS READY FOR ACTION.




Initials PK/VS/CT/SS



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Background: PATROL BOATS OF THE ISRAELI NAVY ARE MAINTAINING A CONSTANT WATCH ON SEA ROUTES AROUND THE SINAI PENINSULA AS SECURITY IN THE GULF OF AQABA AND RED SEA BECOMES INCREASING IMPORTANCE TO ISRAEL. THE GULF OF AQABA IS THE ONLY MEANS OF ACCESS TO ISRAEL'S BUSY PORT OF EILAT, WHICH HANDLES VAST QUANTITIES OF THE COUNTRY'S OIL TRADE.

IT WAS THE CLOSING OF THE GULF OF AQABA NEAR SHARM EL SHEIKH BY UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC FORCES THAT SPARKED OFF THE SIX-DAY WAR IN JUNE, 1967.

THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION OF THE SINAI PENINSULA DURING THE WAR OPENED THE WATERWAY AGAIN TO ITS NAVY VESSELS AND TO GENERAL SHIPPING TRADING WITH ISRAEL.

THE FAST PATROL BOATS GUARD THE AREA -- CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF ISRAEL'S WEAKEST DEFENCE POINTS -- DAY AND NIGHT. THEIR CREWS ARE CONSTANTLY IN A STATE OF ACTION READINESS.

BESIDES MAINTAINING A ROUTINE WATCH ON MILITARY MOVEMENT IN SURROUNDING ARAB COUNTRIES, THE ISRAELI PATROLS ARE ALSO PLAYING A BIG PART IN CONTROLLING THE SMUGGLING OF DRUGS AND THE SHIPPING OF WEAPONS FROM JORDAN TO EGYPT. THE GULF OF AQABA PROVIDES THE ONLY SEAPORT OUTLET FOR THE JORDANIANS.