Israel will ask the Big Three this week to clarify whether they are now ready to sell arms to the Jewish state and also to elucidate the passage in the joint U.S.-British-French declaration issued yesterday stating that arms will be supplied only if the purchasing state does not intend to wage aggressive warfare against any other state, it was learned here today.
Israel Government observers do not exclude the possibility that the U.S. will now bring pressure on Egypt to sign a non-aggression pact with Israel similar to the one now in force between Israel and Jordan. Some quarters here foresee the possibility that Israel will seek arms in Western Europe rather than in the United States because of cheaper prices.
Meanwhile, a U.N. Palestine Conciliation Commission spokesman commenting on the joint declaration on arms said that the agreement “can in no way be regarded as a substitute for peace” and that the Conciliation Commission will “continue vigorously to aid both parties in reaching a final settlement.”
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