Israel asks UN aid for border demarcation with Lebanon

Israel has asked for international aid in demarcating the borders with Lebanon and for setting up a mechanism for preventing the escalation of the situation at Israel's northern borders after the withdrawal of the Israeli army from south Lebanon.

The Israel Radio quoted the Israeli daily Haaretz as saying on Monday that Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy made these statements during his meeting on Sunday in Jerusalem with Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok.

Israeli Radio indicated that Levy will head for Europe to meet with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to propose the withdrawal plan and to seek international backing for it.

Meanwhile, an Israeli political source said Israel does not seek to form a UN force to be stationed in south Lebanon, but for the international community to contribute to implementing UN Security Council resolution 425, as it is the political and judicial base for withdrawal from south Lebanon.

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak stated that a unilateral withdrawal from south Lebanon would escalate the situation at the northern borders.

Barak's statements were made on Sunday evening during his meeting with the two co-chairman of Shinui movement in Israel, Tommy Lapid and Abraham Bural.

Barak expected that the Syrians will not surpass "the red lines" in Lebanon, recalling that, "Until now the Syrians have not violated any agreement."