Israel sources, commenting on threats by the United Arab Republic to prevent a Jordan River diversion project to irrigate new areas, said today that Israel regards such projects as of equal importance with freedom of navigation in the Gulf of Akaba.
The comparison of irrigation projects with the importance of unimpeded Akaba navigation for Israel’s southern port of Eilat was considered an implicit warning to UAR President Nasser that any attempt on his part to interfere by force with the project would elicit the same Israel retaliation as would interference with Eilat shipping.
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.