The Yaffo and Tarshish, the two Israeli missile boats that represented Israel in the American Bicentennial celebration in New York July 4, returned to Haifa to be greeted by a warm welcome from the Israel navy and the friends and relatives of the 105 officers and sailors who made the trip.
The boats, in addition to participating in New York’s Operation Sail, visited other ports and Washington, D.C. They reported warm welcomes by the Jewish community in each city they visited.
On their way back, the two Israeli ships stopped in the Azusa for fuel and supplies. The request for the stopover was made to the Portuguese naval attache in the United States who visited the two missile boats. Israeli sources believe that the granting of permission has political implications. The new Portuguese government has hinted at establishing diplomatic relations with Israel.
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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.
