Premier Golda Meir has reportedly supplied the United States with information and evidence of additional Soviet military involvement in Egypt. Mrs. Meir met yesterday with U.S. Ambassador Walworth Barbour and is said to have warned that the situation could result in a serious escalation of the Mideast conflict. Mrs. Meir summoned the U.S. envoy reportedly to supplement Foreign Minister Abba Eban’s meetings with American officials which began in Washington today. The Israeli Prime Minister reportedly emphasized to Ambassador Barbour that Israel would defend the Suez Canal zone “with all its strength” and would oppose the extension of Egypt’s defense system there “regardless of who is involved.” Observers here said that in effect, Israel has drawn a 20 mile-wide corridor extending westward from the canal and along its entire 103-mile length in which it will not permit the construction of missile sites even if it means confronting Russian pilots in combat. A military spokesman said he could not confirm that any SAM-3 missile launching ramps have been set up in the canal zone as yet. He said Israeli bombing missions in the area have been aimed at “military installations.”
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