Two Israeli leaders agree to discuss a coalition

Israel's Prime Minister-designate Yitzhak Shamir and opposition Labor Party leader Shimon Peres agreed Monday to meet to discuss the possibility of forming a national unity coalition government.

Public opinion appeared to favor an alliance to deal with Israel's political, economic, and military problems, but politicians said there was little chance the exploratory talks would succeed. Mr. Peres said he would demand a stop to most Jewish settlement in the West Bank and a quick end to Israel's military presence in Lebanon as conditions for joining a coalition.

Meanwhile, the only town in the world based solely on the principles of Hassidic Judaism was dedicated Monday in the heart of the Israeli-occupied West bank.