Reports that the United States had asked Israel to limit its overflights in Lebanon were hotly denied by the Prime Minister, following another meeting with Ambassador Habib. Israel still clung to the goal of a peaceful resolution of the crisis, hoping that Syria shared this stand. Israel had given Mr. Habib more time to complete his round of talks. Text:
There isn't such an American proposal. The information is completely misleading. In any case, I want to assure you there is no American proposal to limit our right for the overflight in Lebanon, in order to discover what's going on, and to prevent the attacks of terrorists against Israeli citizens. There is no such part of the American plan whatsoever, I assure you.
I did not see any American plan at all, but I can tell you that this information about limitation of our overflights is absolutely untrue. What I do know is what I heard from Mr. Habib, but he did not show me any American plan. He'll be leaving today for Damascus. He will be back here, probably on Friday, and we'll have another talk. I will expect the information from him and let us hope he will help, really, as he does with great devotion, to prevent even military actions, not only general war. We don't want either. We want a solution - a peaceful solution.
Much time we don't have because the Syrians all the time send more missiles, but of course, we will try our best. We agreed that Mr. Habib goes back to Beirut and Damascus, and we shall wait for his return.
Until we reach real agreement on what we call - all of us, the U.S. and Israel - the return to status quo ante, we cannot say anything about the results. The idea of both the U.S. and Israel as far as developments in Lebanon are concerned is status quo ante. On this we have full agreement with the U.S., and if he brings the news that there is an agreement with the Syrians, I will be able to say that we have now a peaceful solution to the problem.