U.S. special envoy Philip Habib met with Premier Menachem Begin this evening over the conflict in Lebanon. No details were released. Begin reportedly told the American diplomat that there could be no return to the conditions of the cease-fire he helped work out along the Lebanese border last summer.
Habib arrived here last night after consulting with President Reagan at the Western economic summit meeting in Versailles. He reportedly hoped to see Begin immediately but was refused and declined to meet with any other Israeli officials.
Begin will report to the Cabinet on his talk with Habib. Israel is said to be seeking a new agreement in Lebanon that would keep the Palestinian terrorists out of artillery and rocket range of northern Israel, a distance of 40 kilometers (25 miles) according to Begin. The pursuit of such an agreement is expected to be one of the main topics Begin will discuss with Reagan and other U.S. officials when he visits Washington later this month.
Although Israel has stated that it has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon, this by no means indicates that Israeli forces will withdraw from that country in the near future. Prior to withdrawal, there could be tough bargaining, especially with the U.S. for conditions to ensure that the Palestinians would no longer be in a position to strike at Israel from Lebanese bases.
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