This interview is noteworthy because the Foreign Minister announced that there would be no Israeli withdrawal before principals for arrangements were formulated "and before we are certain that we achieved what we set out to achieve at the outset of the 'Peace for Galilee' campaign" Throughout the day, the I.D.F. was involved in very heavy fighting south and east of Beirut, mainly against units of the Syrian army. The Phalangists did not intervene in any way. On that day Mr., Shamir met with Ambassador Habib, but there were no concrete results. Text:
Q: Mr. Shamir - first, perhaps, the issue of the cease-fire. Israel yesterday announced a unilateral cease-fire. The Syrians are honoring the cease-fire. Cannot today's announcement be viewed as an attempt to reach an indirect agreement with the P.L.O.?
A: No. The Government's announcement reflects the position as it is. We announced a cease-fire yesterday of our own volition. It is a unilateral cease-fire. The Syrians have maintained it, generally. The terrorists did not honor the ceasefire, they continued to attack our soldiers. We, of course, returned fire. Today we decided to make an attempt -not as a result of contacts with outside elements. This was at our initiative. We decided to make a further attempt this evening to cease firing. And if the terrorists also cease firing, firing will stop.
Q: If the terrorists stop firing does this mean a freezing of the existing situation on the ground also from the standpoint of the terrorists' positions?
A: First of all, this is a cease-fire. What follows afterwards, (this) we will discuss tomorrow.
Q: You met with Ambassador Habib today. Were matters relating to the final arrangements vis-a-vis Lebanon also discussed with the Ambassador?
A: Not yet. Discussions of a general nature began with him, but it is clear that all his energy was devoted in recent days to achieve the cease-fire and to achieve the Syrian's agreement to honor the cease-fire. We had very general discussions which will form the basis of the new situation that will obtain after the cease-fire. The government will decide tomorrow on the way in which negotiations will be conducted, the people will be selected to conduct negotiations, and we will get down to work.
Q: Are there any American ideas, as far as you were able to hear from Mr. Habib?
A: There are all kinds of ideas, not necessarily all original ones. There already is a tradition of cease-fires in the world and specific bodies which can supervise such cease-fires. But we have to discuss these ideas.
Q: I have heard that were some American ideas about the diplomatic arrangements regarding Lebanon.
A: There are ideas. I don't know if they are American ideas, but we must discuss them, and also make our own formulations.
Q: What are the maximum results you would like to see, and what is the minimum that Israel is likely to agree to?
A: I would not now define our maximum and minimum demands. We want to reach the point that Lebanon will no longer serve as a base for terrorist activities... that is the essential, fundamental point. All the rest... will be decided in the course of negotiations.
Q: I would like you to relate for a moment concerning a possible position of the United States. Is it not possible that as the result of pressure from the Arab states, the United States will take a position that will not be commensurate with our wishes?
A: Everything is possible. But no one can force us to accept a position that does not meet with our approval.
Q: Are we taking into consideration American pressures?
A: There are no American pressures... there were none in the past and I hope there will not be. The simple reason (for this) is that the Americans have a lot of experience and they know that with pressure they will not be able to achieve anything with us.
Q: Mr. Shamir, do you think there is a possibility of a staged withdrawal from Lebanon during diplomatic negotiations?
A: That already is part of the negotiation process. I do not think that there will be any withdrawal before we formulate the principles of the arrangements and before we are certain that we achieved what we set out to achieve at the outset of the "Peace for the Galilee" campaign.
Q: In other words, Israel will continue to remain in the suburbs of Beirut and on the Beirut-Damascus highway?
A: There are all kinds of possibilities. I will not go into details. There are questions of certain distances, ranges; there are issues that pertain to the internal situation in Lebanon... I would not like now to go into all of this prematurely.
Q: Will the Prime Minister go to the United States this week as planned?
A: He will go as planned to fulfill his mission.
Q: And in two days, sir, you are going to Paris. What do you expect there in view of the almost hostile statement of the French government?
A: It is known that the Government of France... the French people, the President of France, Francois Mitterand, are generally thought of as friends of the Israeli people and the State of Israel. To our great distress, we have differences between us, particularly concerning the issue of a Palestinian state.
Q: But these differences today mostly concern Israel's actions in Lebanon.
A: Also over this... these differences arise from the differences about the Palestinian question generally. And these differences, to my thinking, do not have to prevent a dialogue between us and France. The opposite: I think that these differences make this dialogue obligatory in order to persuade, in order to explain our positions, and maybe to reduce the gap between us...