Israel refused permission for American arms to be flown across Israel air space and delivered to Jordan, it was learned here today from informed sources. The request was put to Israel in the form of a feeler, seeking Israel’s reaction. That reaction was firm and negative.
Israel is apprehensive about Washington’s decision to dump quantities of arms on “pro-Western” Arab states, finding practically no difference in anti-Israel hostility between pro-Western and pro-Soviet Arab states. Both sides indicate an intense desire to use any arms they get against Israel.
Israel also recalls that when Washington first armed Iraq it made a clear distinction between countries neighboring on Israel and other Arab states. Additionally when Israel asked the U.S. for weapons it was told that Washington would not send arms to only one side–Israel or its neighboring Arab states.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry refused to comment on a report that Israel would soon renew its application to the Canadian Government to release for transfer a dozen Sabre jet aircraft. The transfer was approved and the planes were being prepared for shipment when the Sinai operation began and Ottawa froze the export license.
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.
