Peres says involvement in Lebanon cannot be solved by force

Former Israeli Army Chief of Staff Amnon Shahak said that the Israelis must search for a way to halt military acts in south Lebanon. Shahak, who is also the founder of the Israeli al-Wasat Party, added that if he is elected as Israel's next prime minister, he will work to resume negotiations between Israel and Syria on the grounds of setting prior dates for withdrawal from south Lebanon or regarding other matters.

In a statement to Israeli Army radio on Wednesday, Shahak added that negotiations with Syria should be continuous in a way to provide enough reasons to reach positive results. He added that in case negotiations are resumed with Syria, Israel should, from the very first day negotiations start, guarantee the halt of any military operations in south Lebanon, through an initial agreement in this respect with Lebanon and Syria, simultaneously.

Shahak added that the possible negotiations as those should guarantee the higher security interests of Israel, especially regarding the issues of water and normalization of relations.

Shahak added that Israel will find itself on the international border with Lebanon, but in Syria's case the situation is different since Israel has to keep for itself a line inside the Golan that would enable it to defend itself and ensure its security, in addition to anticipated security arrangements with Syria.

For his part, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres said that Israel is presented with two options to deal with the current situation in Lebanon. They are, either to look at Syria, Lebanon and the Hizbullah as one side that Israel should deal with or to work for dismembering these three sides and deal with them on the basis three different sides.

Peres added, "Everyone who thinks he can fulfill the second option will be fooled," since it is not possible to disengage Syria from Lebanon in the peace talks.

He added the continued presence of the Israeli army in south Lebanon will give the Hizbullah Party joint Syrian - Lebanese support and give it the justification to continue fighting against Israel.