Israeli officials statements on Syria and Lebanon

Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Ephriam Sneh has stated that Israel does not call for amending the April Understanding, but for amending a wrong explanation of this understanding, as if it is legalized "to strike the Israeli Army, a matter which is refused from our side."

In an interview with Israeli Radio on Friday, Sneh expressed his hope that Syria was the side which prevented the launching of the Katyusha missiles by the Hizbullah party toward northern Israel.

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said, "We attacked infrastructure targets in Lebanon without having the Katyusha missiles hit against Israel, in order to make it clear that striking the Lebanese infrastructure is but one possibility available for the Israeli Army and Israel in case of continued violations of the April Understanding."

Barak stressed his determination to withdraw to the international borders in July this year and warned against attacking Israel in case such a withdrawal to the international borders is made.

Barak added, "The Israeli Army is the strongest army in the Middle East and I recommend not to test Israel's reaction when we withdraw to the international borders."