Israel Confirms Cessation of British Flights over Israel to Jordan

The cessation of British overflights of Israel territory with troop and supply planes from Cyprus to Jordan was confirmed here today by authoritative Israeli circles.

It is understood that when the British shrugged off continued Israeli requests for an end to the violations of Israel air space, the British Ambassador was called in and told, in the firmest tones, that the flights must cease.

(In London, British defense officials disclosed today that they had established a new supply route for British forces in Jordan that would avoid Israel territory and use of Israel air space. In future supplies to Britain’s paratroops in Jordan will go through the port of Akaba, on the Gulf of Akaba, overland to the interior. A contingent of supply troops arrived in Akaba to handle the shipments.)

Although, by coincidence, the final Israeli demand came on the same day the Soviet Union protested to Israel against the British action, it was stated here that there was no connection between the two developments. The Israeli demand was motivated by two interconnected factors:

1. Israel’s desire to avoid further involvement in the British intervention in Jordan, particularly since Israel feels the presence of British troops in that Arab land neither prevents Jordan’s disintegration nor presents a barrier to Nasser’s expansion.

2. Israel’s suspicion that Britain is again playing an anti-Israel game in Jordan. Commenting on London reports that Israel would march into Jordan if Hussein fell, Israeli political circles hinted that these reports constitute another British attempt to set up Israel as a bogey to convince Jordan that British troops are needed in the country to prevent an Israeli attack.

However, Israeli sources do not deny that if Jordan falls apart, Israel will be face to face with an entirely new security situation. It is felt here that in such an eventuality, Israel’s actions will be determined by her own security interests.