Israel has recalled its Ambassador to Paris, Walter Eytan, for “consultations,” Government sources said today. He was expected to be present at Monday’s Cabinet session, that will be devoted to French-Israeli issues. The Cabinet may decide whether to press for a $60 million cash refund for 50 Mirage jets embargoed by President Charles de Gaulle during the Six Day War. It was expected also to consider whether to seek repayment of $40 million for military equipment and airplane spare parts embargoed by Gen, de Gaulle last week.
Foreign Minister Abba Eban said on Friday that if France refused to deliver planes and military equipment purchased by Israel and also refused to refund payments made, such action would constitute a breach of all accepted international relations. Mr. Eban commented on a statement by a French Government spokesman that France would neither supply the equipment nor refund the $100 million paid by Israel to cover the orders. The spokesman had said the equipment would be held on French soil for Israel. Mr. Eban said that President de Gaulle’s embargo action was a consequence of his refusal to recognize Israel’s right to act in self-defense in June, 1967.
Meanwhile, sources said there would be no change in the location of the Defense Ministry purchasing mission in Paris. Mordechai Limon, mission head, returned today to Paris, headquarters of all Israel defense purchasing operations in Europe. He had rushed to Israel for consultations when the latest embargo became known. Defense Minister Gen. Moshe Dayan was expected to report to the Cabinet Monday on the implications of the embargo on the State’s military strength and posture. Army branches have been instructed to provide estimates of the situation.
The embargo was imposed Jan. 4 by Gen. de Gaulle in angry response to the Dec. 28 Israeli commando raid on the Beirut International Airport that destroyed 13 commercial airliners, including several in which Air France had a 30 percent investment. Israel used French-built helicopters in the attack, which cost no lives and was a reprisal action for the assault on an El Al airliner in Athens on Dec. 26 by two Arab terrorists who came from Beirut and who killed one Israeli, injuring two.
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