Time running out, says defence chief

Press, 14 July 1982, Page 8

Time running out, says defence chief

NZPA-Reuter Jerusalem The Israeli Defence Minis- ; ler (Mr Ariel Sharon) has : said that time is running out I on efforts to persuade encircled Palestinian guerrillas to leave West Beirut without renewed fighting. While Israel has set no time limit for talks to get the guerrillas out peacefully, "time is important and time is running out.” he told a meeting of Army officers yesterday. Mr Sharon, regarded as the architect of the Israeli campaign in Lebanon, said that Israel wanted a political settlement. "Should the present negotiations break down and the terrorists refuse to leave, our Armed Forces will make sure they get out." he said. An Israeli Cabinet source on Monday said that the Prime Minister (Mr Mena-

chem Begin) was studying military measures to root the guerrillas out of the mainly Muslim western sector. where they have been under siege for about a month. The statements came as an increasing number of Israelis expressed gloom about the negotiations being conducted by the American special envoy. Philip Habib, in Beirut, to find a peaceful solution for the guerrillas' withdrawal. The Israeli press also expressed doubt about the outcome of the Beirut talks to persuade the estimated 6000 guerrillas to leave of their own accord. In Beirut some Palestinian officials appear content that the negotiations are stalled. ' They believe that United States' pressure is holding Israel back from a final assault, and feel that if the

Palestinians bide their time they will be able to reach a settlement favourable to the P.L.O. But these officials believe . that Israel will maintain and perhaps increase its military pressure, leading to more artillery, rocket and mortar exchanges of the sort that rocked Beirut for 16 hours on Sunday and killed at least 60 people. Some of the officials hope appeared to stem from' the P.L.O.’s performance in those battles, in which the Israeli Army said that three of its soldiers had died and 28 had been wounded — the highest casualty toll for many days. Israeli front lines on the hills overlooking Beirut took direct hits and a Reuters correspondent watched the Israelis yesterday pulling men and armour back from the most exposed positions.