Israel Would Let U.S. Use Its Bases

The Prime Minister’s Office said today that if the United States should ask Israel for use of its naval or air bases, the request would receive favorable consideration. (It was reported in Washington today that the U.S. was considering for the first time, accepting offers of military bases in Israel and Egypt in light of the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan.)

Defense Minister Ezer Weizman said while he was in the U.S. last week that Israel would be favorably inclined toward an American request for air or naval facilities. A White House spokesman said later that the U.S. was informed of this attitude. American naval units of the Sixth Fleet have visited the Israeli ports of Haifa and Ashdod on several occasions in recent years. However, those were strictly courtesy visits to allow shore leave for ships’ crews following naval exercises.