Premier Menachem Begin told American diplomats today that in his view a withdrawal of all foreign troops from Lebanon could be accomplished “within a time span not exceeding a few weeks.” He made this remark following a meeting with U.S. special envoy Morris Draper, who flew to the region yesterday to embark on the next stage of U.S. mediation in Lebanon to secure the withdrawal of remaining PLO, Syrian and Israeli forces from that country.
Begin’s hopeful estimate contrasted sharply with the general mood of shock, uncertainty and distress that descended on Jerusalem with the news that President-elect Bashir Gemayel was killed in a bomb blast.
Israeli officials said the assassination “changed the situation, but it is too early for an informed assessment of the present situation in Lebanon, or of what the future is likely to bring.” Draper, for his part, told the Israelis that he had been instructed to press ahead with redoubled vigor to help work out a negotiated withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon.
As Draper was meeting first with Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir and then with Begin in Jerusalem, Israeli troops occupied new key positions in Beirut. The American diplomat was reportedly told by the Israeli leaders that these military movements were to “ensure quiet” and to “avoid any untoward movements.”
ONGOING U.S.-ISRAEL COOPERATION
Israeli officials said after the meetings that there would be ongoing close cooperation between the U.S. and Israel in the wake of this latest tragic turn of events in Lebanon.
Draper flew to Beirut for talks with political leaders there and to attend Gemayel’s funeral this afternoon. He was scheduled to proceed to Damascus, before returning to Beirut where he will set up his headquarters for the negotiations he proposes to conduct.
Israeli officials said they hoped to receive from Draper in the next day or so, either in person or through channels, his own reports and impressions on the situation in Lebanon following the assassination. The officials said Begin had also urged Draper to press the Syrian for information on Israeli prisoners of war they are holding.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
