Habib is Expected to Return Soon to the Mideast

Philip Habib, President Reagan’s special envoy for the Middle East is expected to return soon to the area in an effort to insure that the cease-fire he helped establish across the Israeli-Lebanese border last July will continue. The 61-year-old retired diplomat met at the White House this afternoon with Reagan and Secretary of State Alexander Haig.

Meanwhile at the State Department, spokesman Dean Fischer stressed that “the United States continues to believe in the cessation of hostilities” as being “in the interest of all concern ed.” He noted that from time to time, the U.S. has been “active diplomatically” in the Lebanese situation, “particularly in times of tension” in order to prevent anything from undoing the cease-fire or developing into a military confrontation. He would not outline what were the U.S. diplomatic activities.

Fischer stressed that “we don’t have any relations with the PLO,” He was referring to a newspaper report that Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasir Arafat yesterday rejected what was said to be American efforts that he broaden the cease-fire into a general truce.

Arafat reportedly told a rally of his terrorist forces that he would make no commitment beyond the cease-fire agreement not to launch raids from Lebanon into Israel. Israel has charged the Palestinian terrorists with infiltrating from Jordan since the July cease fire.

While noting the U.S. does not deal with the PLO. Fischer said the U.S. has continually stated publicly that “we urge restraint and caution on all who are benefiting from this cease-fire arrangement.”