On the situation in south Lebanon

A high-ranking US official has said that the situation in South Lebanon is very sensitive at this stage due to military tensions and the Israeli elections. He urged Lebanon, Israel and Syria to act in such a way as to avoid repeating the "Grapes of Wrath" aggression conducted in 1996.

The US official added in an exclusive interview with the Lebanese daily al-Safir issued on Saturday that the explosion in the situation in south Lebanon may erupt if either side carrys out a special act that results in civilian or military losses, a matter which would be conducive to a reaction which by itself will lead to a counter-action ending in firing Katyusha missiles on North Israel or civilians losses in South Lebanon, "Then we will face a big fire."

The US official, who takes part in making the US policy in the Middle East, said that an explosion in the situation would be damaging to "Israel, Syria and Lebanon," especially Lebanon.

He denied that the US seeks to modify the April Understanding. He asserted that Washington, will, immediately following the Israeli elections and the formation of a new government, seek to resume negotiations on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks.

He noted the emergence of encouraging factors in this regard, especially the emergence of an Israeli consensus on the need to resume negotiations with Syria. He said such negotiations will be conducive to settling the Israeli problem in Lebanon.