Israel accuses Syria for Lebanon's position on withdrawal
Lebanon-Regional, Politics, 4/8/1998

Israel said that it is ready to withdraw from Lebanon, on Monday the Israeli Ambassador to the US Eliyahu Ben-Elissar said "we are ready to withdraw from Lebanon completely" and we have no conditions on the withdrawal, but added that the Lebanese army will have to deploy along the southern border, and that the Lebanese government treat the Hizbullah party be disarmed like other political parties in Lebanon, adding that Israel will not tolerate incursions from the Lebanese border.

The Israeli ambassador said that the Lebanese would love to see Israel out, and accused Syria of preventing such a move, and expressed surprise as to why the Lebanese would reject such an offer.

Yesterday, The Council of Maronite Archbishops held a meeting headed by Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Nasrallah Boutrous Sfeir. In a statement issued after the meeting, the council stressed that national unity should be preserved to face the current Israeli threats and maneuvers.

Also, Lebanese Republic's Mufti Sheikh Muhammad Rashid Qabbani said on the occasion of Eid al-Adha sermon that seperating the Syrian and Lebanese tracks regarding talks with Israel is an Israeli ploy. He urged the international community to take a united and effective measures against the Israeli occupation of the Arab territories.

In the same context, chairman of the higher Shiite Islamic council in Lebanon Sheikh Muhammad Mahdi Shams eddine stressed Lebanon's rejection of the Israeli evil proposals pertaining to 425.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz on yesterday said the proposal of Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu concerning withdrawal from south Lebanon is part and parcel of an Israeli media campaign to deceive the world's public opinion and appease Israeli public opinion, which complains of heavy material and human casualties inflicted on the Israeli occupation forces at the hands of the Lebanese resistance.

In a statement to the Bahraini daily Gulf News, Boueiz said UN resolution 425, which provides for Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon, is clear and needs no further explanation, adding that the resolution calls for immediate, complete and unconditional Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon. Boueiz said UN resolution 425 does not need negotiation.

Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said UN resolution 425's arrangement is the responsibility of the UN, noting that Israel has previously violated accords signed with it.

Previous Stories:
  Annan did not rule out Israeli-Syrian talks on the Golan   (4/7/1998)
  Hrawi: 425 implementation is UN responsibility   (4/6/1998)
  Khaddam emphatic on Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon   (4/6/1998)

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