Aj Committee Urges Sale of Planes to Israel; Conference of Presidents Meeting on Crisis

The American Jewish Committee warned today that the “most recent intervention” in the Middle East–the presence of Soviet pilots in Egypt–could indicate a shift in the balance of power there. It therefore urged President Nixon to give “new and serious consideration” to the Israel government’s request for authorization to buy more Phantom and Sky hawk jet planes in the United States. “Just last month, Secretary of State Rogers stated that if steps were taken that might upset the current balance of power in the Middle East, the President would not hesitate to reconsider sending additional planes to Israel,” Philip E. Hoffman, Committee president, declared. “Despite the restraint shown by our government,” he noted, “the Russians have chosen to escalate their penetration in the Middle East and their most recent intervention could indicate a shift in balance.” A special meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations is scheduled in New York tonight to consider the situation. Dr. William Wexler, president of B’nai B’rith and president of the Conference, flew up from Washington to preside over the deliberations.