Lebanon refuses Israeli threats
Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 4/13/2000

Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss has called on the US Middle East peace process cosponsor not to be trapped by Israel and give up its role in attempting to achieving a just settlement on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks.

In a statement issued in Beirut on Wednesday, the Lebanese prime minister reiterated Lebanon's opposition to the Israeli threat of "revenge attacks" in the Lebanese depths if any security incident takes place on the borders following Israel's unilateral withdrawal.

Al-Hoss added the Israeli stances reveal that Israel sees its unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon as an alternative for the choice of comprehensive settlement with Lebanon and Syria, adding that Israel is trying to drag the US into adopting a similar position.

He added, "We are looking for that day in which Israel will quit all Lebanese territories, according to UN resolution 425. This is our demand during the 22 past years, but we do not find the withdrawal as a substitute to the settlement. We would rather prefer a just and comprehensive settlement with Lebanon and Syria, altogether, because such a settlement will on the one hand ensures a regular withdrawal which does not leave behind any problems, and on the other hand ensures the finding of the necessary solutions for all pending issues between Israel and Lebanon including the explosive issues, especially the question of the Palestinian refugees."

The Lebanese premier added that such a settlement guarantees stability in douth Lebanon and alienated the ghost of any security violation on the borders following the pullout.

He indicated that the Israeli threats to Lebanon to retaliate for any security incident taking place on the border following the pullout with revenge strikes in the Lebanese depths "are rejected and regrettable" because international borders have frequent border incidents, and, "We have not ever heard from any of these countries that it had attacked the depths of another country as a revenge reaction. There are international references to consider the border incidents peacefully."

Previous Stories:
  Al-Hoss: Lebanese - Israeli borders not for discussion   (4/12/2000)
  Lebanese Premier: Lebanon does not trust Israeli intentions   (4/11/2000)
  On Barak's meeting with Clinton   (4/11/2000)

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