Israel and France signed an agreement here yesterday providing for the construction of a 2,125-mile underwater cable between Tel Aviv and Marseilles that will enable the first cable telecommunications between Israel and the United States and Europe to begin operating in 1968. Current telephone and other communications links between Israel and points in Europe and the United States are by radio. The $17,000,000 Mediterranean cable will join Israel with the extensive cable network now linking Europe with the United States.
The Israeli and French Governments have formed a joint company to operate the cable with Israel holding 60 percent of the shares and France 40 percent. The company is expected to sell individual circuits of the 96-circuit cable to various governments and telecommunications companies.
During the ceremonies at which the agreement was signed, Yeshayahu Lavie, director general of the Israel Ministry of Posts, handed over a check of 5,000,000 pounds ($1,667,000) to representatives of Excofina, the French telecommunications company that was awarded the contract for producing and laying the cable. French Ambassador to Israel Bertrand de la Sabliere stated at the ceremony that the cable will be another link uniting the two countries.
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