Israel’s three Navy landing craft that passed through the Suez Canal yesterday received a tumultuous welcome when they arrived at the port of Ashdod this afternoon. Their historic voyage was the first by ships of Israel’s Navy through the Egyptian waterway.
Ashdod, Israel’s second largest seaport, took a half-holiday to greet the flag-bedecked Ahziv, Ashkelon and Ashdod which had sailed from Eilat three days ago. Air Force jets circled overhead, harbor craft blew their whistles and fireboats sent up huge sprays. The landing craft were escorted to their Israeli base by four naval patrol boats. The commander of the Israel Navy waited on shore to greet the officers and crewmen after which they joined other units in a gala parade through the city.
It was learned, meanwhile, that President Anwar Sadat was among the Egyptian throngs who witnessed the passage of the Israeli vessels through the canal yesterday. He watched from his home at Ismailia as the flotilla passed slowly by late in the afternoon, the Israeli sailors lined up on deck. The President, dressed in an admiral’s uniform, strolled to the canal bank, saluted the ships and then waved, a brood smile on his face.
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