Barak and south Lebanon

The Israeli daily Maariv issued on Tuesday said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has recently instructed the leadership of the Israeli Army to obstinate totally from violating Lebanese sovereignty following the planned withdrawal to the international borders.

Israeli Radio quoted this paper as saying that these instructions include a total halt of the air, land and sea military activities in any area falling under Lebanese sovereignty.

Barak also told the leadership of the Israeli Army that Israel will honor UN resolution 425 and it will withdraw from every inch of the Lebanese territories.

Israeli political sources said the aim of the UN resolutions is to have the backing of the international community for the peace process and to refute any claims portraying Israel as continuing to occupy Lebanese territory.

An Israeli military source said the Israeli Army will deal with Lebanon from now on as with any sovereign state, and therefore, "Violating this sovereignty will be only made in the state of war or fighting and at the instructions from political level."