PARIS: An Israeli fighter plane was shot down, in an air battle with UAR aircraft today [Nov 3] over the Suez Canal area, a military communique broadcast by Cairo Radio said today. The communique added that another Israeli aircraft was probably hit by ground anti-aircraft fire. All the UAR aircraft involved returned safely to their base. The fight occurred after four Israeli aircraft tried to penetrate UAR air space, the communique said.

The Israeli Press, meanwhile, reported today that Foreign Minister Abba Eban had been authorised to tell the United Nations special Middle East envoy, Dr Gunnar Jarring, that Israel would only be ready to discuss the “frontier” problem when UAR formally announced willingness to arrive at a peace treaty signed by the opposing parties.

In east (occupied) Jerusalem today, all shops, offices and schools remained closed in protest against the confiscation by Police yesterday of 15 Arab shops and cafes. The shops and cafes were “confiscated until further notice” during yesterday’s general strike to mark the anniversary of the 1917 Balfour Declaration which promised Jews “a national home in Palestine”. — Agency

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2018