Israel wins out on agenda for talks with Lebanon

Israel won its demand to begin the Israeli-Lebanese talks with the subject of mutual relations Monday, leaving the withdrawal of Israeli troops for discussion at future negotiations.

The priority given to normalizing relations was a clear Israeli victory over Lebanese negotiators, who had insisted the withdrawal of the 30,000 Israeli troops still inside Lebanon be discussed first. Lebanese government officials had said Sunday that they had completed a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops to raise at the talks here Monday. The foreign forces in Lebanon also include 40,000 Syrians and 10,000 Palestinian fighters.