The United States complained to Israel today that Israeli naval units had damaged American equipment employed in drilling for oil in the Gulf of Suez. The complaint said the Israeli units damaged pipes and other equipment and broke the anchor chains of American drilling marges.
Israeli naval circles said they knew of no damage done to American equipment. But they acknowledged that American technicians prospecting for oil on behalf of Egypt, had entered Israel-controlled waters of the Gulf and had been ordered back to the Egyptian side. Under the interim agreement signed in September, 1975, Israeli and Egyptian waters are separated by a demarcation line running through the center of the Gulf.
Two days ago, Israeli naval units sighted American drilling barges in their sector of the Gulf south of Abu Rodels. The Americans are believed to have crossed the demarcation line unintentionally and withdrew to Egyptian waters when informed of the violation, the Israeli circles said. They said there had been similar incidents in the past involving Japanese crews searching for oil in the Gulf of Suez.
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