382. Editorial Note
During the afternoon of October 26, additional reports concerning the Israeli mobilization reached Washington. In telegrams CX–378, CX–381, and CX–383, the Army Attaché in Tel Aviv, Colonel Leo J. Query, reported to the Department of the Army that the Israeli call-up of personnel and matériel was continuing unabated and that most newly-mobilized troops were in bivouac south of Tel Aviv. Query described the mobilization as “very large scale”, exceeding the extent of all previous Israeli mobilizations since the 1948–1949 war. The Attaché also reported that according to available sources, the French might be working with the Israelis, and he speculated that an Israeli move against the Straits of Tiran was a “good bet”. (“Chronology of Significant Events Relating to the Current World Crisis,” prepared by The Joint Chiefs of Staff Historical Section; JCS Files)
The Embassy in Tel Aviv reported in telegram 419, received in the Department of State at 6:44 p.m., October 26, that it had been able to verify the call-up of some reservists as far north as Haifa, including numerous villages and towns between there and Tel Aviv. Also, as of 8 p.m. Israeli time, the Ministry of Defense building and the army patrol stations, normally closed after sundown for the Sabbath, appeared in full operation. The Embassy also noted that in response to an Embassy query regarding the troop call-up, the Israeli Government had issued an informal reply mentioning the Egyptian-Syrian-Jordanian Unified Command and reported Iraqi troop movements. The Israeli Foreign Ministry also told the Embassy that in view of the foregoing, “Israel security authorities had decided a very partial mobilization was necessary.” The Embassy commented that the Ministry’s statement on the size of the mobilization appeared to be an understatement and that the Israeli public was apprehensive that events were moving toward actual hostilities. (Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/10–2656)