Eban: Renewed Egyptian Hostilities ‘not Very High’

Foreign Minister Abba Eban told newsmen today that the chances of the Egyptians renewing hostilities with Israel were “not very high” in the near future because Egypt knew that it would receive a military setback if it challenged Israel. Eban, at a news conference here, suggested that recent Egyptian rhetoric was designed simply to arouse international sympathy for the Arab cause.

“If the Egyptian decision to fight is based on rational grounds,” Eban said, “it would not be logical for Egypt to open fire against Israel. Therefore, we do not equate rhetoric with a real threat.” On the possibility of a renewal of fighting, Eban said: “I don’t rank the chances very high at all.”

MIRAGE TRANSFER NOT A MIRAGE

The 60-minute press conference was dominated by questions about the recent alleged transfer of French Mirage jet fighters by the Libyans to the Egyptians. Newsmen hammered away at the Foreign Minister to divulge evidence that Israel had given the French to prove that the Mirages had indeed been transferred.

“We’ve told the French the number of planes, the dates that they were transferred, the airports from which they took off, the airport at which they landed, and above all, the precise places in Egypt where they are now,” said the Foreign Minister. He asserted that 18 to 20 of the 60 Mirages sold by France to Libya had been transferred. But he would not provide precise details as to dates or names of airports.

Eban also said that relations between Israel and Africa have improved since last fall when three African nations broke diplomatic relations in succession with the Jewish State. “We definitely have the impression that the tide has been stemmed,” said Eban. The Foreign Minister spoke at length about Israel’s success in combatting international terrorism, noting that Israel’s latest success had come in curbing terrorism from Syria into Israel.