Recent developments in the Middle East have greatly improved Israel’s chances of obtaining arms from the United States and Britain, Col. Avraham Yoffe, a Defense Ministry aide, reportedly told 350 delegates to the International Israel Bond Conference here yesterday. Col. Yoffe made this statement during a briefing–in closed session–on Israel’s security situation.
Information arriving here from Washington and London today tended to confirm Col. Yoffe’s evaluation. Negotiations for arms purchases seem to be going well. Shimon Peres, director general of the Ministry of Defense, concluded today his discussions with the British Defense Military and Admiralty in London and is expected back here this week-end.
Informed Israeli sources were hopeful that Washington would take positive action soon on Israels brief arms list. One of the major problems facing Israel with respect to obtaining arms from the West is how to meet the considerable financial burden imposed by such arms purchases.
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