Oh, All Right, Talk

IT IS NOT JUST A TABOO, IT'S THE LAW -- A 1986 ISraeli law under which anyone who talks to representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization for any reason can be jailed for three years. But last week a motion by the Labor-led government to repeal that law cleared the first of three readings in the Knesset. Though the margin was the smallest possible, 37 to 36, final passage appears likely, since opponents made their maximum effort to defeat the repeal on the first round; the Likud Party even had five of its members hide in their cars until moments before the vote in an attempt to throw off government tallies. The government insists it still will not negotiate directly with the P.L.O., but private contacts just might advance peace prospects.