Khaddam: Israeli proposal on 425 is part of expansionist policy

Syrian Vice-President Abdul Halim Khaddam on Sunday described the Israeli proposals on south Lebanon as a maneuver aimed at misleading the international public opinion, and disrupt Lebanese internal affairs and revive the May 17 accord imposed by Israel on Lebanon.

In statements to reporters, Khaddam said the Israeli conditions are in violation of UN Security Council resolutions 425 that calls for Israeli unconditional withdrawal from Lebanon. "They want security arrangements and guarantees which mean ending the state of war between Israel and Lebanon and consequently making peace according to Israeli conception, because peace means to them security as it was defined by Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu," Khaddam said.

He made it clear that Syria considers this "Israeli objective" part of Israel's expansionist policy which aims at strengthening Israeli aggression in the region and weakening Arab states.

Therefore, Khaddam said, Syria has rejected the Israeli objective out of hand and decided to expose Israeli deception to the Arabs and the international community. "Our brothers in Lebanon are well aware of the dangers of the Israeli objective, so as, the Lebanese government has taken a clear attitude and rejected it." This position has been made public by statements issued either by Lebanese premier or by the foreign minister, Khaddam said.