April 5, 1993

In a dramatic turnaround for a military service that has been plagued by sexual-harassment accusations in recent years, the Navy's top admiral wants to allow women to serve in combat eventually and has recommended immediately expanding the number of jobs on ships that are open to them, Pentagon officials said today. The long-term objective is to open to women virtually every job in the service, including flying combat planes. But that proposal has not been submitted to Defense Secretary Les Aspin, partly because top Navy officials and Mr. Aspin believe the other military services would oppose it.

Israel Trims Arab Workforce Israel has begun measures to reduce the number of Palestinians working in the occupied territories and is looking for Jews to fill the jobs. Page A7. Another Version of Raid Lawyers for the leader of the Branch Davidian cult are contradicting the Government's account of a deadly shootout in Texas. Page A10. 47 Points and a Title Sheryl Swoopes set an N.C.A.A. finals record as Texas Tech beat Ohio State for the women's basketball championship. SportsMonday, page C7.

After years of the fear and uncertainty of living in dilapidated apartments with drug-dealing neighbors, tenants at 526 West 158th Street in Manhattan had reason for hope when, with the help of a nonprofit agency and the city, they took over the property in 1989. But not everything has gone smoothly. The building, in Washington Heights, has fallen behind on its property taxes and loans from the city, and an attempt to renovate it has left some families struggling with incomplete bathrooms, broken windows and drains filled with concrete and plaster.

If the Knicks finish with the best record in the Eastern Conference, they will remember tonight's game as a crucial victory. Winning an emotional test of wills against a quality opponent on the road, New York (51-20) beat the San Antonio Spurs, 108-103, in overtime at the HemisFair Arena. The triumph extended the Knicks' winning streak to six games, and it kept them one game ahead of the Chicago Bulls (50-21) in the East.

METRO DIGEST WARNING ON TRADE CENTER BOMBING President Mubarak of Egypt says the United States could have prevented the bombing of the World Trade Center if American officials had heeded his country's warnings about an Islamic fundamentalist network in the United States. But he suggested that the information provided by Egypt related generally to activities by individuals in the United States, not that Egypt had passed on specific information foreshadowing the bombing. Mr. Mubarak called on the new Administration to take a more active role in stemming international terrorism, particularly activities inspired by Islamic fundamentalist groups. A1. NEW YORK CITY EXPANDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS