Lebanese leaders cast off Mordechai comments

Lebanese officials on Monday dismissed an Israeli declaration that Israel is willing to fulfill U.N. resolution 425 if certain security measures were provided.

House Speaker Nabih Berri said it was an Israeli attempt at separating the Lebanese and Syrian tracks in the peace process, adding that any conditions placed by Israel on a withdrawal are unacceptable.

Berri was responding to an interview with Israeli defense minister Yitzhak Mordechai published in Al-Watan al-Arabi magazine this week in which he said Israel was ready to withdraw from south Lebanon in compliance with resolution 425.

It was the first time in more than 20 years that an Israeli official acknowledged the resolution, which calls for an immediate and unconditional withdrawal from a border enclave Israel has occupied in south Lebanon since 1985.

However, Mordechai said Israel would withdraw only if certain "security measures" were provided, meaning the disbanding of the Hizbullah group following an Israeli withdrawal.

"Resolution 425 stipulates the withdrawal of Israeli troops without any conditions," Berri told reporters Monday.

Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz also cast off the remarks.

"The Israeli declaration does not fool us, because it is far from implementing resolution 425 which calls for a complete, immediate and unconditional withdrawal," he said.