The State Department indicated today that it believes the cease-fire along the Israeli-Lebanese border is broad enough to prevent the Palestine Liberation Organization from conducting terrorist acts against Israel from outside Lebanon.
“We are of the opinion that the cessation of hostilities is significantly broad to prevent violence instigated by any party,” Department spokesman Dean Fischer said. However, he would not comment on remarks by PLO leader Yasir Arafat in Beirut last Sunday that the cease-fire only prevented the PLO from attacking across the Lebanese border.
Fischer also declined to comment on reports that Israel plans to launch an attack on south Lebanon aimed at the PLO. He noted that the Israeli Defense Ministry has “dismissed” a report in a news weekly that Defense Minister Ariel Sharon advocates such an attack in order to “wipe out the PLO.”
A WARNING TO ISRAEL AND THE PLO
But Fischer seemed to be warning Israel and the PLO against any action. “We urge all parties to observe the cease-fire,” he said, “to abstain from acts that threaten the cease-fire. We would further take a very dim view of actions by any parties that might threaten the peace in that area.”
Fischer said that President Reagan’s special envoy, Philip Habib, who helped establish the cease-fire last July, will be leaving for the area some time this week. As was the case on Habib’s three previous trips to the area since last May, the date of his departure and his itinerary will not be announced.
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