President de Gaulle will lift the French arms embargo against Israel, probably within 30 days, and permit the delivery of the 50 Mirage V jet fighter-bombers Israel has on order, the London Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.
President de Gaulle’s decision was, reportedly, a result of his exchange of letters with former Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and his desire to smooth over misunderstandings with the Israel Government, the paper said. It quoted other opinions in Paris that Gen. de Gaulle had been influenced in his decision by information on the Soviet arms buildup in the Middle East.
(The Washington Post reported from Paris that Lebanon has purchased 12 combat jet fighter planes in France and that Lebanese pilots were receiving training in France to handle the craft. The paper said that Iraq had ordered 75 armored cars in France for delivery this year and had an option for purchase of another 75.)
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
