Report: Partial Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon within two months
Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 9/21/1999

Al-Quds al-Arabi quoted Western diplomatic sources in Beirut as saying that Israel is preparing to maintain a partial withdrawal of its forces during the next two months from south Lebanon and that UNIFIL will be redeployed spontaneously if such a withdrawal is made in these areas, which are considered under the work domain of UNIFIL.

The sources said this withdrawal will give Israel "credibility" and, on the other side, embarrasses Lebanon which advocates cohesion between the Syrian and Lebanese peace tracks.

The sources continued that the Israeli withdrawal as such imposes further pressures on Lebanon to make security arrangements with Israel under the title "filling the security space," as well as applying pressure and converting any resistance act from the Lebanese territories to an internationally condemned action.

The sources also said they believe a partial Israeli withdrawal in south Lebanon would be aimed at dragging the Lebanese resistance into operations near the borders, against which Israel will strongly retaliate and therefore impose a truce in south Lebanon under international supervision.

Previous Stories:
  Lebanon: No secret contacts with Israel   (9/20/1999)
  Hizbullah secretary general expects Israeli withdrawal from Jezzine, Hasbia   (9/16/1999)
  Lebanese minister of communications confirms unity of Lebanese, Syrian tracks   (9/16/1999)

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