Jewish leaders voiced alarm today over Saturday’s overflight of the Israel-occupied Sinai peninsula by two Soviet MIG-23 jets and urged the US State Department to “seize the opportunity to bring Israel and Egypt together in direct negotiations now for peace in the Middle East.”
A statement by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations deplored “the provocative action of the Soviet military forces” and warned of a possible “miscalculation” by the Soviets and their Egyptian allies “that might tempt them to a renewal of hostilities with Israel.” They urged the US to resume the delivery of Phantom jets to Israel “to deter any such miscalculation.” The statement was signed by Jacob Stein and Rabbi Israel Miller, vice-chairmen of the Conference.
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