Israel officially denied today that President Reagan’s special envoy, Philip Habib, conveyed a warning to Premier Menachem Begin not to take any military action in Lebanon. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said “no warning whatever” was received from Habib who met with Begin here Monday. Habib is in Beirut today and is scheduled to return to Washington Friday.
Notwithstanding the denial, observers here are speculating over what prompted U.S. sources to leak stories of an alleged warning to the media. According to the press accounts, Habib conveyed his message, obviously from President Reagan, to Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir and Defense Minister Ariel Sharon as well as to Begin Monday.
Israel Television’s military commentator suggested last night that the leaks were intended to demonstrate to the moderate Arab states that the U.S. alone — not the Soviet Union — has the ability to restrain Israel.
Highly placed Israeli sources said today that there was nothing to restrain inasmuch as Israel had repeatedly said it plans no military action in Lebanon as long as the other parties, principally the Palestine Liberation Organization, respect the cease-fire Habib helped establish last July.
Nevertheless, it seems to be recognized here that Habib’s periodic visits to the region serve to calm tensions, particularly during the current trying period before Israel completes its withdrawal from Sinai.
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