Walker: Israel violated April Understanding provisions

US Undersecretary of State for Near East and North Africa Affairs Edward Walker has announced that the Israeli raids which targeted the infrastructure in Lebanon on February 7 and 8 were a violation of the April Understanding of 1996.

In a statement to the Qatari al-Jazira satellite TV station Walker added that these raids were a violation of the understanding and that the time is now ripe to reset the Middle East peace into its right track, halt the acts of violence and reach agreements on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks with Israel.

Walker expressed his conviction that the April Understanding has proven credible and that it has to be revitalized and implemented.

Japan, on the other hand, expressed its concern over the Israeli attacks against Lebanon. It regretted that these Israeli attacks target the Lebanese infrastructure which had a great impact on the daily life of the Lebanese people.

A statement by the Japanese Foreign Ministry also expressed fears that the Israeli military escalation will affect the resumption of peace talks especially on the Syrian track.

The statements urged all sides for self-control to avert further deterioration of conditions and to seek the realization of a just and comprehensive peace in the region.