Locusts may invade Israel and neighboring countries within the next few weeks, possibly before the end of the month, according to a warning just issued by the director general of the United Nations, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). The warning, circulated in letter form to all Near East countries, including Israel, reported that locusts were breeding in areas of Saudi Arabia near the Red Sea and in the Yemenite Republic. FAO teams are attempting to exterminate the pests but there is a danger that swarms might turn northward and invade Jordan, Israel, Egypt and Sudan, the letter said. The last locust invasion of Israel was in 1962.
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