The Premier Faints

Intent on the Eichmann trial, Israelis were suddenly staggered and dismayed by the discovery of a spy in their midst. Dr. Israel Baer, 49, a hero of the war of independence, was arrested on the charge of passing secret state documents to the Soviet Union.

Baer was Premier David Ben-Gurion's friend. A lean intellectual with protruding teeth and crew-cut hair, Baer was so close an associate that he was allowed to read Ben-Gurion's private diaries, was told three days in advance of Israel's intention to start the successful 1956 Sinai campaign. Austrian-born, Baer fought as a battalion commander on the Loyalist side in the Spanish Civil War, went to Palestine in 1938 as a military instructor to Haganah, the powerful Jewish underground organization.

In 1950 Baer became a lecturer on military affairs at Tel Aviv University. As a member of the International Association of Military Commentators, he was a close friend of Britain's respected military expert, Basil Henry Liddell (The Defense of the West) Hart, who visited him in Tel Aviv. Baer toured NATO instalations in Europe three years ago, lectured in West Germany, and last year paid a visit to Moscow. Another close friend: Israel's Deputy Defense Minister Shimon Peres, one of the favorites eventually to succeed Ben-Gurion. There had been questions before about Baer's loyalty, but Ben-Gurion stood by his friend, ignored the rumors.

In deep agitation, convinced at last, 84-year-old Ben-Gurion broke the news of Baer's arrest to the Cabinet. Then he fainted. Appalled by the prospects of revelations to come, old party leaders were grey with worry. Said one: "We're in terrible trouble."

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