Hints from unidentified Egyptian officials that Egypt might reopen the Suez Canal and allow unimpeded passage to Israeli ships in the Tiran Strait in exchange for an Israeli pullback from the Sinai Peninsula were reported here yesterday.
It was noted that the purported Egyptian offer fell far short of Israel’s demands for Arab recognition, an end to the proclaimed Arab state of belligerence against Israel, and free passage of Israeli flag ships through both waterways, Israel now controls the Tiran Strait and has troops stationed on the east bank of the Suez Canal where no traffic of either country is now moving under an interim agreement arranged by the United Nations. That agreement expires on August 27.
Some diplomats here reportedly were encouraged by the apparent willingness of Egypt to put out any feelers at all which represented a presumed readiness by some Egyptian officials to make a more realistic appraisal of Egypt’s political and economic problems created by its disastrous defeat in the June war. However, some United States officials indicated doubts that the hints represented the views of President Nasser of Egypt. They noted that reports indicated that Egyptian officials remained adamant about rejecting any agreement which would allow use of the Suez Canal to Israeli flag ships.
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