Israel Premier David Ben Gurion received United States Ambassador Edward B. Lawson in a private audience today. They are understood to have discussed Middle East developments in the light of the situation in Lebanon.
There was no way of confirming advance reports that the Premier would raise with the Ambassador the question of the Anglo-American decision to supply late model jet fighters to Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. Observers here believe the Ben Gurion Cabinet has not reached a final decision whether to file a new formal request with Washington for jet aircraft to balance its arms with those of the Arab states.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry announced last night that Israel and France had signed an agreement for France to supply Israel with six Vaouture supersonic jet bombers. The new twin engine bombers, capable of a top speed of 700 miles per hour, will enable Israel to strike back at any Arab country which opens hostilities.
The only other bombers which the Israel Air Force possesses now are three B-17s, four engine American propeller driven craft known during World War Has Flying Fortresses. Israel used them in the War of Liberation ten years ago.
Andrew Cordier, United Nations Under Secretary and Secretary Dag Hammarskjold’s third personal representative to try to settle the Israel-Jordan dispute over Mt. Scopus, arrived in Jerusalem this week-end from Beirut. It Is understood he will confer this week with both Mr. Ben Gurion and Jordan’s Premier. Yesterday he spoke with Maj. Gen. Carl C. von Horn, UN truce chief here.
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.
