On conditions in south Lebanon
Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 2/2/2000

Israeli Radio on Tuesday reported that high-ranking military sources in the Israeli army asked for giving the political level the green light so as to be able to react to the recent escalation in south Lebanon, saying the "hands of the army are tightened."

These sources stressed it is not possible to monitor peace negotiations at a time when fighting proceeds, saying that the Syrian Cabinet would have held a meeting rather than the Israeli ministerial council in order to discuss the situation. Replying to that, Israeli political circles said on Tuesday morning that Syria should work to control Hizbullah if it is actually seeking to proceed with the peace process.

The Israeli political circles said that an Israeli military reaction might strike the Lebanese civilians, and as a result Katyusha missiles will be fired against Israeli inhabitants in the north of Israel, and thereby another escalation will arise.

For its part, Israeli military sources expressed an opposite position.

The security sources in Israel feel the Hizbullah Party exceeded "the red lines" and that the army should be given the chance to prove once again the deterrent force it owns.

The Israeli Radio correspondent said the Israeli Army calls for reacting to the continued Israeli attacks against the Israeli Army because "not reacting" to these aggressions against the Israeli army will be explained by the Lebanese side as a weakness, and the Hizbullah party will continue escalation of security conditions.

The correspondent indicated that a "severe reaction" will lead to the deteriorated security conditions and losing control, a matter which will eventually lead to losing political chances.

Israeli Minister of Science and Culture Matan Vilnai said in an interview with this radio that what should be taken into account is not revenge, rather the Israeli interest, namely ensuring the security of Israel and ensuring the safety of the northern area and its inhabitants.

Replying to a question on the possibility of Israel's directing a military blow, he added that the "reaction" should be always in a way that makes it clear to the other side what is the Israeli red line and at the same time not to escalate conditions in the north.

He continued that Israel always evaluates the results of directing a military strike against the Lebanese infrastructure and against Hizbullah bases and south Lebanon and it knows that they are not always successful.

Member of the Israeli Knesset for the Likud, Silvan Shalom, called for striking the economic interests in Syria and Lebanon. He said that getting the Israeli Army out of south Lebanon is a good objective, but he expressed his opposition to taking this army out of Lebanon unilaterally, without any agreement, saying that would endanger northern Israel and lead to another escalation in the region.

Previous Stories:
  Israeli officials reaction to Aqel's assassination   (2/1/2000)
  Security procedures intensified around Israel's embassy in Turkey   (1/27/2000)
  Rubin denies talks on disarming Hizbullah party   (1/7/2000)

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