Israeli forces in south Israel in a state of alert
Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 4/16/2001

Eye witnesses said that the Israeli forces on the northern border of Israel today morning were in a state of utmost alert, but no certain instructions were given to civilians following the raid carried out by the Israeli planes against a Syrian position in Lebanon in which four Syrian soldiers were reported to be killed.

The eye- witnesses said that the Israeli army took several preventive measures along the international borders with Lebanon in case Hizbullah decided to reply to the Israeli raid.

The state of alert included, in particular, the Israeli forces deployed in Shebaa farms area, close to the joint borders between Syria, Lebanon and Israel.

Meantime, an Israeli governmental source said today that the Israeli foreign minister Shemon Peres opposed during a meeting for the mini- Israeli security government on Sunday evening the launching of a raid at an Israeli position in Lebanon.

The same source added that Peres during the meeting considered the raid as not suitable because it might bring things into deterioration. But he, in principle, did not oppose such kind of operations.

To this effect the Israeli Hebrew- language radio said today that the decision to bomb the Syrian radar center in al-Mdereij area in Lebanon was taken on Sunday evening during a meeting held by the Israeli mini cabinet meeting.

The radio claimed that all members of the Israeli mini cabinet approved the bombardment except the Foreign minister Shemon Peres and the minister of communication Afraem Seneh.

Meanwhile, the al-Sharq ( orient ) radio said today that the Lebanese foreign minister Mahmoud Hamoud talked on the telephone with the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara and briefed him on conditions following the Israeli raids against the Syrian position in Daher al-Baidar.

Hamoud said that he follows up his contacts with the international sides, especially the UN Security Council five permanent states.

Previous Stories:
  Israeli forces strike south Lebanon   (4/12/2001)
  Israel caries out mock raids in South Lebanon   (4/11/2001)
  Israeli moves in South Lebanon   (4/10/2001)

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