4
Examination of Surrendered MIG by Western
Powers Remains Unsolved Question in Israel
- JERUSALEM (JTA) — Official
Israeli sources said Israel had not
yet received any official request
from any country for permission
to examine the Soviet-built MIG-21
flown to Israel last Tuesday by an
Iraqi Air Force captain in a bid
for political asylum.
The Israel government was con-
tinuing to examine the issue from
all angles against a background of
reports that several western gov-
ernments were interested in a
s se e look at the- first Soviet MIG
r to land in a non-Communist
non-Arab country. There were
ports that the government might
prepare an official communique on
the matter. This was expected to
stress that the MIG-21 belongs to
Israel and that Israel alone is en-
titled to examine and study it.
The Israeli press continued to
be split on whether technical in-
formation about the advanced
Soviet fighter jet should be made
available to the United States
and other friendly countries.
The leftist newspapers remained
adamant in opposition to such
action on grounds that it would
cause further deterioration of
Israeli-Soviet relations.
Independent newspapers, such
as Haaretz and Yediot Ahronot,
recalled that the Soviet Union
recently adopted a more hostile
stand toward Israel while the
United States was actively co-
operating with Israel in the field
of aviation. Those newspapers
contended that if the United
States trained Israeli technicians
in the use of Hawk supersonic
ground-to-air anti-aircraft mis-
siles to fight Soviet-supplied
MIGs, it was only fair that Israel
should share with the United
States information useful in
fighting - such Soviet-built planes,
the main air weapon used by
North Vietnam against Ameri-
can military forces.
Informed sources said there was
no chance whatever that Israel
would return to Iraq the pilot and
the MIG-21. They noted that Iraq
had not even signed an armistice
agreement with Israel.
Col. Mordechai Hod, commander
of Israel's air force, which has
custody of the Soviet-made plane
at one of Israel's air bases, said:
"Only Israeli experts, and they
alone, will examine the plane."
The statement was understood as
meaning that United States air at-
taches here, who have repeatedly
sought an opportunity to examine
the plane since it was landed in
Israel, will not be permitted yet
to scrutinize the MIG and its
equipment.
An American air attache told
newsmen that Israel's acquisi-
tion of a MIG-21 is "most im-
portant and most interesting?'
French circles here and in Paris
have described the Israeli pos-
ssion of the plane as an "enor-
ous intelligence victory." It was
t
noted here by experts that Is-
rael is now the only non-Com-
munist and non-Arab country in
possession of a MIG-21. It was
reported that, some time ago,
the United States offered $1,000,.
000 for the acquisition of a
MIG.21.
Two of the left-wing parties in
the government coalition — Ahdut
Avoda and Mapam—indicated en-
ergetically that they would op-
pose Israel's passing on to any for-
eign government any details con-
cerning the MIG. Such action, these
parties hold, would seriously affect
Israel's relations with the Soviet
Union. Ahdut Avoda's organ, the
daily newspaper Lamerhav, called
on the government in an editorial
"not to reveal any of the MIG's
secrets to anyone." Any breach
of this rule, Lamerhav warned,
could be "disastrous" to Israeli-
Soviet relations.
Not only will Israel, at this time,
turn down any Western requests
for examining the plane, but it will
reject firmly any request that
Iraq might possibly make through
the United Nations for the return
to Baghdad of the aircraft and
the defecting air force officer.
(At the United Nations, it was
confirmed that a member of the
Iraqi delegation had consulted
Secretary-General U Thant about
the defection of the Iraqi pilot
with his MIG-21, surrendering
both himself and the aircraft to
Israel. However, a UN spokes-
man declined -to say whether
Iraq has demanded UN interven-
tion to have the plane and pilot
returned by Israel.)
It was noted by air experts that
the MIG-21 now in Israel's hands
is the latest model of this power-
ful Soviet jet fighter, including
many improvements in its equip-
ment. France and Britain, it was
said, are also interested in the
plane's details, as is the United
States, due to the MIG-21's secrets,
which combine highest efficiency
with economy of operation.
Israel's Foreign Minister, Abba
Eban, opened a series of meetings
with diplomats representing gov-
ernments which have membership
on the United Nations Security
Council, to explain to those gov-
ernments that Israel views Syria's
claims regarding salvage of its
sunken MIG-17 in Lake Tiberias
with "gravity."
Eban conferred on this issue
with the French, Bulgarian and
Argentine ambassadors to Israel.
V. Yakushov, the USSR's charge
d'affaires in Israel, made a call
at the Foreign Ministry and was
briefed on the Syrian situation by
Arie Levavi, director-general of
the Ministry. (Members currently
on the Security Council, in addi-
tion to the permanent members—
the U.S.A., Britain, France, the
Soviet Union and Nationalist China
—are Japan, Jordan, Mali, The
Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria,
3ulgaria, Uganda and Argentina.)
Israel is making it clear that,
Soviet MIG in Israel
on no account, will it permit Syria
to encroach on Israeli territory—
Lake Tiberias, in this instance—
to try to retrieve the lost Syrian
MIG and the drowned Syrian pilot.
Israel has suspended its efforts
to refloat the Coast Guard cutter
stuck on reefs about 200 yards
from the shore of Lake Tiberias
nearest to Syria. Israel's suspen-
sion of its work on refloating the
Coast Guard ship was ordered in
an effort to ease tensions.
Originally, the Syrians agreed to
let Israel do all the salvage work
in the lake, including its ship and
the downed MIG. But later Syria
changed its mind.
Friday, August 26, 1966-5
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
U. of Texas to Recognize Hebrew as Major for BA
• AUSTIN, Tex. (JTA)—The Uni- 1963 to 100 in 1965.
versity of Texas has approved a
program granting a BA degree
with Hebrew as a major study.
Chancellor Harry Ransom said
that the revival of Hebrew as a
living language has stimulated the
rapid progress of teaching, re-
search and library development in
Hebrew studies at the university.
...but if you want up-to-date
He emphasized that the U. of
imaginative, hard-hitting ads,
Texas program is "an essential
brochures, c at alogs, and
continuation" of the tradition
ETC'S. (at list price, because
established by Rabbi Henry L
they're fresh ! ) call — Murry
Cohen of Galveston. Citing the
Koblin Adv. 18039 Wyoming,
growing popularity of the program,
UN. 1-5600.
Chancellor Ransom said that reg-
istration in Hebrew courses at the
university had grown from 12 in
SUMMER
CLEARANCE
ON ADS
If one wishes to be acquainted
with the Past and the Present
he must read five cartloads of
books. — Chinese proverb.
No one undersells
HARRY ABRAM,
A Phone Call Will SAVE You Money!
SHORE CHEVROLET CO.
PAGE SEPT.9_
TIN 1-0600
12240 Jos. Campau
M111111
Res. LI 8-4119
■ 11•11 ■ 1111=MIIIIIIIIII ■ k
The absolute best
time to come to Phillips
Northland Men's Shoe
Shop is 4 p.m. sharp.
No later than 4:30.
We found out years ago that one of the first things a customer
looks for at a shoe store is a place to park.
We've got a lot of lots at Northland. And in the late afternoon
you can pull into Lot "G" or Lot "H" on the south end of the
Center and find a parking place with no trouble at all.
Then, to reach the city's largest collection of Florsheims and Hush
Puppies®, you just take a two-minute walk to our Men's Shoe Shop.
Okay, so it's three minutes.
PHILLI
The first Soviet MIG jet fighter to land in a non-Communist
or non-Arab country is shown at an airbase "somewhere in Israel."
The advanced Soviet MIG-21 was flown to Israel by a captain in the
Iraqi Air Force in a dramatic bid for political asylum. The 30-
year-old Iraqi pilot defected to Israel after sending his family
abroad.
NORTHLAND CENTER
Use Lots "G" or "H" at the south end of the Center
Right near Himelhoch's