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LV Int. Israeli Defence spokesman illustrating speech with map directions
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TRANSCRIPT: ISRAELI DEFENCE SPOKESMAN: "The IDF spokesman announced a transport plane of the Israeli Air Force of the Stratacruiser type which flies over the Sinai area at a distance of 22 1/2 kilometres in this area east of the Suez Canal, was shot down by ground to air missiles directed at him from the Egyptian territory at approximately 1410 hours. The plane, still in Israeli territory, at a distance of 24 1/2 kilometres east of the Suez Canal. One crew member parachuted safely. Seven crew members are missing. The families have been informed. All signs show that this was an initiated action by the Egyptians prepared in advance. A complaint has been lodged with the U.N. staff, and the U.N. observers have been invited to visit the area and examine the site where the plane was shot down."




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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Suez Canal ceasefire faced its tensest moments today (Saturday 10th September) since it began 13 months ago, after Israel claimed Egypt shot down a transport aircraft over Israeli-held territory on Friday (18 September).

But Israeli leaders, although they viewed the incident as a serious premeditated act of provocation, apparently hoped the truce would weather the storm and not degenerate into a resumption of the artillery barrages and air raids that raged early last year.

Israeli military spokesman said in Tel Aviv on Friday that the low-speed Stratocruiser transport aircraft was hit by a missile in what "showed every sings of being a premeditated act" while flying some 14 miles (22 kms) east of the Suez Canal over Israeli-held Sinai.

One of the four-engine aircraft's eight-man crew baled out safely, but others are listed as missing.