MIDDLE EAST: Outburst at Suez

After three days in Cairo last week consulting on Middle East peace with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, British Foreign Secretary Sir Alec Douglas-Home sounded an optimistic note. Douglas-Home, who had taken time out to don Arab robes and ride a camel while visiting the pyramids at Giza, reported that his hosts were "in a mood for permanent peace." Sir Alec had hardly spoken, however, when Egypt and Israel started shooting at each other in the most serious exchange since a fragile cease-fire was arranged along the Suez Canal 13 months ago.

The fight was actually precipitated two weeks ago, when Israeli gunners shot down an Egyptian Sukhoi 7 reconnaissance plane because, they said, it had flown over Israel's fortified Bar-Lev Line on the canal's east bank. Egypt retaliated by sending SAM missiles aloft to knock down an aging SA-2 transport, which Israel said was flying several miles away from the canal. Seven men were killed when the Stratocruiser crashed in the Sinai desert, 15 miles from the waterway. Israeli Phantoms avenged them by raking Egyptian positions near the west bank with rockets. The Egyptians fired back, and on both sides of the canal ground troops were on alert.