Israel television claimed tonight that the United States is secretly preparing an air base in Egypt without either country informing Israel. According to the television’s military commentator, this development is occurring at a time when Israel has announced its readiness to grant the U.S. air and naval facilities.
The Americans have been engaged in making a base placed at their disposal by the Egyptians ready for action, he said. The base would enable the U.S. to send troops to protect its vital interests in the Persian Gulf oil producing countries or Pakistan. Neither the U.S., considered a friend of Israel, nor Egypt, in the midst of a peace process with Israel, saw fit to inform Israel which had to learn about it from foreign sources, the commentator said.
He did not identify the foreign sources but observed that this development sheds light on the American political, trend in the near future to base its policy on the Arab anti-Communist states. According to the commentator, that is why the U.S. rejected Israel’s request for $3.4 billion in military and economic aid in the next fiscal year and offered to add only $200 million to the $3 billion aid package over the next three years. There was no confirmation of the Israeli television report.
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