The World : New ‘Star Wars’ Warning

The Kremlin has warned Israel that by joining President Reagan’s “Star Wars” research program, it is harming prospects for a Mideast peace, the Soviet news agency Tass reported. The message from the Soviet Union, which broke off ties with Israel in 1967, was delivered by the Finnish Foreign Ministry, Tass said. On May 6, Israel became the third U.S. ally after Britain and West Germany to agree to conduct research for Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative, a space-based missile defense system popularly known as “Star Wars.” Moscow has charged that such research will speed the arms race and upset the superpower balance.