President Reagan’s special envoy, Philip Habib, left Beirut today for Israel and three Arab countries to discuss the problem of finding a haven for the 6,000 Palestine Liberation Organization men in west Beirut as well as to discuss the proposals by two Arab Foreign Ministers in their meetings here with President Reagan and Secretary of State George Shultz this week.
State Department spokesman Dean Fischer said that in addition to Israel, Habib will go to Syria, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Habib, who is accompanied by Morris Draper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near East and South Asian Affairs will return to Beirut after his trip which might include other countries, Fischer said. There was speculation that among these might be Jordan Algeria and possibly some European countries.
Fischer refused to give Habib’s exact itinerary, in keeping with State Department policy of not announcing the envoy’s schedule until he arrives in a particular country. Fischer refused to give any details of what Habib will be discussing on his trip.
His announcement said only that “Ambassador Habib will explore further the ideas and understandings that have emerged in Washington and in Beirut toward a solution of the problems in Lebanon in general and of the west Beirut crisis in particular.” He conceded, however, that one of the problems Habib will be discussing is “where the PLO fighters will go after they depart from west Beirut.”
Prince Saud Al-Faisal and Abdel Halim Khaddam, the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Syria, respectively, reportedly suggested in their meetings with Reagan and Shultz this week that the PLO fighters be given temporary haven in northern Lebanon until a permanent place is found for them but that their leaders leave Lebanon immediately.
Fischer denied that today’s Israeli air attacks in Lebanon had any affect on Habib’s mission. He said the mission was being considered even before the two Arab Foreign Ministers came to Washington.
The State Department spokesman refused to assess any blame for the latest breakdown of the cease-fire in Lebanon, saying the U.S. had no independent means to verify who shot first. “I can only reiterate our hope that the cease-fire can be maintained or preserved or resumed as soon as possible, ” he said. Fischer had no comment on Premier Menachem Begin’s remarks yesterday that the PLO will not be in Beirut longer than two more weeks.
But he noted that the U.S. seeks “a rapid solution to the west Beirut crisis, to the wider problems of Lebanon and we will also remain actively involved in the search for a resolution of the Palestinian problem in all of its aspects, beginning with the resumption of the autonomy talks.”
Fischer observed that while these three aspects were linked as part of the overall objectives of the U.S. in the Middle East, each would be dealt with separately now. He refused to say if the U.S. had specifically asked Israel not to attack west Beirut.
But he said the U.S. position has been clear that it hoped for a continuation of the “cessation of hostilities. ” A State Department source said later that Israel had never given the U.S. any “assurances” that it would not attack west Beirut.
REJECTS REPORTS FROM BEIRUT
Fischer called “totally, utterly untrue” reports from Beirut that Habib had asked Washington for permission to speak directly to the PLO if he finds it necessary to reach an agreement. The spokesman said “this underscores the danger” of reporters relying on sources “who don’t know what they are talking about.”
Fischer said the President and senior Administration officials have “repeatedly” reiterated the U.S. position on the PLO. He repeated it again today, saying “We will neither recognize nor negotiate with the PLO until it accepts Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and recognizes Israel’s right to exist.”
But when asked about Shultz’s statement in his Senate confirmation hearings last week that the PLO should also lay down its arms and renounce terrorism, Fischer said this was not a “formal requirement” in the same way as are the other conditions which are a “longstanding policy.”
Fischer said he was not aware of plane for Israeli Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir to come to Washington soon. He noted that Shultz, who is now in California, is looking forward to meeting Shamir at an early opportunity. Some moderate Israeli Cabinet ministers this week urged Premier Menachem Begin to send Shamir to Washington without delay to discuss the situation in Lebanon.
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