Peres for reaching understanding with Syria concerning Lebanon

In an interview with Israeli Army radio on Monday, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres said unless an understanding is reached with Syria concerning several issues on south Lebanon the same situation will be perpetuated.

He added that he does not expect the present situation in south Lebanon to be improved, at least in the foreseen future.

For his part, Israeli Knesset member for the Labor Party Yossi Beilin said that the governments of Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres held serious talks with the Syrians on the grounds of giving up the Golan Heights and not mere "Platonic" negotiations.

Beilin added that negotiations can be made today with the Syrians, especially as, "They have got to understand that negotiations cannot be made with the Likud government, which until now refused to sit with them."