Israel complained to the United Nations Emergency Force tonight that Soviet warships have twice violated Israel-controlled waters in the Gulf of Suez. The complaint was lodged by Defense Minister Shimon Peres and Chief of Staff Gen, Mordechai Gur with Gen. Ensio Siilasvuo, the UNEF commander. They said the violations occurred Sunday and yesterday when two Russian mine-sweepers approached within three miles of the Sinai coast in an area known as the Morgan Straits.
The officials stressed that Israel took a serious view of the violations. Israel complained earlier this month that Russian helicopters had violated its air space over Sinai. An Israeli source said later tonight that Israel was ready to cooperate in removing mines from the Gulf of Suez, provided the effort was coordinated.
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