U.S. is ‘cautiously Optimistic’ That Accord is Near on Departure of the PLO Forces from Lebanon

The Reagan Administration, declaring today that it was “cautiously optimistic” that an agreement was near on the departure of the PLO terrorists from Lebanon, appeared to expect approval of the plan from the Israeli government soon. Philip Habib, President Reagan’s special envoy, left Jerusalem today after providing the Israeli government with the details of the departure plan and returned to Beirut.

“Negotiations are going well and we remain cautiously optimistic that an agreement on arrangement of the PLO departure from Beirut will soon be reached,” State Department Deputy Spokesman Alan Romberg said. He said the plan was “developing well” and that “the U.S. believes the PLO wants to leave.”

Romberg refused to give details of the substance of the plan, including which countries have agreed to take in the Palestinian terrorists. But he said he had “no reason to question” the statements from various countries that have been reported in the press.

Syria, Iraq and Tunisia have announced their willingness to take in the terrorists. Jordan said it will take 1,000 PLO members who have Jordanian visas. Egypt has reportedly said it would take 3,000 terrorists if it would lead to a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue, and the Sudan has offered to take in 600 temporarily.

Meanwhile, while again stressing that the U.S. cannot judge which side has started the daily fighting in west Beirut, Romberg declared: “We believe it is essentially important given the significant progress that is being made in the negotiations that all sides exercise restraint. We continue to believe that further fighting can only obstruct the negotiating process and lead to unnecessary delaying the successful settlement of the problem.”