Israel is currently negotiating the purchase of 50 French Mirage M5 ground support planes, delivery of which is scheduled to begin next year, the London Daily Telegraph reported today. An embargo imposed several weeks ago by President de Gaulle is currently in effect banning any arms shipments to the Middle East. The Mirage M5 planes, which cost about 365,000 pounds sterling ($1,000,000) each without spare parts and extras, have less electronic equipment than the Mirage III but have a longer range and can carry more rockets, bombs or ammunition.
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