Lebanon opposes conditional withdrawal: Hariri
Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 4/1/1998

Israel's Cabinet formally accepted UN resolution 425 today, stating that Israeli troops would withdraw if Lebanon provides security measures, and called for the Lebanese government to enter into negotiations, Nando Times reported.

The plan the Cabinet accepted is in line with a proposal by Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai. Infrastructure Minister Ariel Sharon had also proposed a withdrawal plan which called for a unilateral Israeli withdrawal, but which also promised a strong military response against Lebanese infrastructure targets would attacks against Israel be launched from within Lebanon.

Lebanon, however has repeatedly refused to provide any security guarantees to Israel in exchange for a withdrawal, ever since discussion of a conditional withdrawal began in January after comments made by Mordechai. The conditional offer has been dismissed as an effort to separate the Syrian and Lebanese peace tracks, and remarks have focused on resolution 425's call for an unconditional withdrawal.

Most recently Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri yesterday in Saudi Arabia stressed the inseparability of the Syrian-Lebanese peace tracks, the importance of giving a push forward to the Middle East peace process and the importance of refusing any proposal aimed at separating the two tracks.

In an exclusive statement to Orient radio broadcast on Tuesday at conclusion of his visit to Saudi Arabia, Hariri added, "Lebanon rejects any conditional withdrawal by Israel from south Lebanon ... Any progress in the peace process cannot be achieved on one track without the other." Hariri called on Israel to abide by UN resolutions.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz expressed deep concern over the impasse the Middle East peace process has reached, holding the Israeli government responsible for the current deadlock the process is undergoing. In a statement he made on Tuesday, Boueiz reiterated Lebanon's position on the Israeli proposals for a pullout from south Lebanon, saying that these proposals are not meant to implement UN resolution 425, but to evade it.

Previous Stories:
  Lebanese-Syrian summit in Damascus   (3/14/1998)
  UN Chief to convey an Israeli message to Lebanon concerning Israel   (3/11/1998)
  Lebanon: Nasrallah's statements stir debate in Israel   (3/10/1998)

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