Australia joins the list of possible Sinai troops

Australia joined Britain, France, Italy, and the Netherlands Tuesday in offering to take part in the US-organized peacekeeping force for the Sinai, but Israel leaned toward rejection of the European gesture.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser said his country's participation depends on Israel's accepting the European offer. Israel can veto any country's participation in the peacekeeping force, but reports in Israel said a decision on the European offer might not be made until next week.