Jets to Israel

Off and on for six months, the government of Canada has debated whether or not to approve Israel's request to buy 24 of the hot F-86 Sabre jet interceptors built under U.S. license by Montreal's Canadair Ltd. Last week, after a gentle nudge from the U.S. and with the approval of France (which has already sold 24 Mystere IV jet fighters to Israel), Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent approved the sale.

Explaining his government's decision, St. Laurent pointed out that Egypt, with airfields only ten minutes' flying time from Tel Aviv, has bought some 200 MIG-15 jet fighters and 40 to 50 Ilyushin jet bombers from the Soviet Union. Even with her new Canadian-built Sabres and French Mysteres, Israel will still be numerically outclassed by the Egyptian Air Force, hopes to equip a third squadron with 24 additional top-flight jet interceptors wherever she can buy them.

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