US denies ruling to start sending on F-16s to Israel

The White House denied it has decided to resume shipments of F-16 fighter-bombers to Israel, which were suspended after the Israeli bombing of Iraq's nuclear reactor. Deputy press secretary Larry Speakes, noting widespread reports that the ban on shipping four jets to Israel would be lifted, said no decision had been made pending a review of whether the Israeli raid was a violation of an arms sales agreement. He also said delivery of six more F-16s to Israel would await the review, expected to be completed before the scheduled Jul y 17 shipping date.