U.S. special envoy Robert McFarlane assured Premier-designate Yitzhak Shamir today that the U.S. remains “forcefully” behind the withdrawal and security agreement Israel signed with Lebanon last May 17 and would oppose any attempts to alter or cancel it.
The American diplomat returned to Israel from Lebanon last night to brief Israeli leaders on the cease-fire and efforts to achieve national reconciliation there. Sources said he offered Shamir a fairly hopeful assessment of the chances for a political arrangement to be worked out in Lebanon.
He also sought to lay to rest Israel’s fear of what some circles here see as a U.S. tilt toward support for a stronger Syrian role in Lebanon. Shamir expressed his country’s concern over increased Syrian involvement in Lebanese affairs.
Observers here believe they detect a greater willingness in Washington to come to terms with the aggressive and pervasive Syrian influence in the Lebanese political process. They also felt that the cease-fire and reconciliation efforts reduced the chances of the May 17 agreement which was orchestrated by the U.S.
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