Israeli fighters and anti-aircraft guns downed three Egyptian MIGs in what was described as a fierce Egyptian air attack on Israeli positions on the east bank of the Suez Canal at sundown today. A military spokesman said that 20 Egyptian planes including MIG-17s and MIG-2Is participated in the attack which sent Israeli jet fighters into the evening skies.
According to the spokesman, the three Egyptian planes were knocked out within minutes after the attack began. Israeli fighters were credited with two MIG-2Is and anti-aircraft gunners got a MIG-17. All Israeli planes returned safely to their bases and no casualties were suffered in the Israeli side. The spokesman said two Egyptian pilots were seen bailing out over Egyptian territory.
The battle brought to 54 the number of Egyptian planes Israel says it has downed since the 1967 war. The last major air battle occurred on Sept. 11 when Israel said it shot down 11 jets and lost one Mirage of its own.
Israeli security authorities girded for possible trouble in the Ramallah area today following the deportation of that town’s popular mayor. Nadim Zaro, and six other Arabs from Ramallah and nearby West Bank villages for alleged cooperation with terrorists and incitement of civil disorder. Three Arabs from Hebron were also deported today on similar charges. All crossed into Jordan via the Allenby and Damiya bridges.
Mayor Zaro. 38, ran a pharmacy in Ramallah, 10 miles north of Jerusalem. He was appointed to his post by King Hussein of Jordan before the 1967 war. He remained in office after the Israeli occupation as did most West Bank mayors. But he was detained several times in the past year and warned to desist from cooperating with subversive elements. He was taken into custody again last Friday on suspicion of security violations. No specific charges were announced.
A military government spokesman said he was implicated in recent strikes by Ramallah merchants and pupils and had incited demonstrations against Israeli authorities. Sources here said his deportation may have to demonstrations of sympathy in the town.
Four other Arabs deported today on orders of the Military Governor, Brig. Gen. Rafael Vardi were from Dir Abu Mashal village in the Ramallah district where an Israeli soldier was shot at last week. Three are local mukhtars (headmen). Two other deportees from Ramallah were the headmaster and a teacher in a school where pupils rioted recently. They were charged with incitement.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
