Mordechai and withdrawal from south Lebanon

Israeli radio said today the Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai has expressed conviction that his initiative aimed at withdrawal from south Lebanon, adheres to UN resolution 425 and which was not proposed by any previous Israeli government, is a practical and serious initiative.

In statements published today by the Israeli daily Maariv, Mordechai indicated that Syria owns the key to bringing this very initiative into existence.

He regretted stances by certain world greater countries which did not try to pressure Syria and Lebanon into accepting his initiative. Mordechai stressed his determination to continue exerting efforts on all levels in order to achieve progress in his initiative, which he described as simple and constituting a pressure factor on Syria.

Lebanon and Syria have both rejected the proposal, saying that resolution 425 calls for an unconditional withdrawal, while Mordechai's proposal stipulates that security arrangements be reached before Israel withdraws.

He noted that Israeli is ready to return to the negotiating table with the Syrians.

Syria has expressed readiness to return to negotiations with Israel, but only from the point at which they broke off.