Lebanon Talks in Doubt; Israel Won’t Set Date

Israel’s delegation refused to set a date for the next round of troop withdrawal talks after a meeting in this Lebanese border town today. The move raised doubts about the future of the deadlocked talks between military negotiators that began last Nov. 8.

“The talks are exposed to (the possibility of) breaking down,” said the Lebanese delegation spokesman, Bassam Saad. But he denied that a collapse had occurred.

“We eagerly want to continue the talks. It will be unfortunate for all of us if they don’t go ahead,” he told reporters at the heavily guarded headquarters of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Naqoura where the talks have been held.

Secure Border Sought

Israel invaded Lebanon in June, 1982, to uproot Palestinian guerrilla bases in southern Lebanon from which raids upon Israel were launched. It insists upon secure border conditions before withdrawing the 20,000 Israeli troops now in southern Lebanon.

Brig. Gen. Amos Gilboa, head of the Israeli delegation, said the Lebanese military delegation “evaded giving a clear answer” at today’s 12th session to questions raised by the Israeli negotiators in the last session Dec. 20, when talks were recessed for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

“I fear that the Lebanese statement is inadequate in providing the security arrangements which Israel seeks to obtain in order to safeguard her northern region,” Gilboa’s statement said.

Gilboa said that while the Lebanese military team maintained that it was interested in continuing the talks, Israel’s delegation would have to seek government guidance before returning to the negotiating table.