Lebanon refuses to send the army to Jezzine
The Lebanese people, especially those of south Lebanon are waiting for the restoration of Jezzine from the occupied part of South Lebanon, with great joy, within the coming few days.
Meanwhile, leader of the pro-Israeli South Lebanon Army militia, Lt Gen. Antoine Lahd, has announced that the withdrawal of his troops will be made in the first half of June, while his remaining forces there continued their gradual evacuation of certain positions and transportation of SLA military equipment.
Lebanese Prime Minister Dr. Salim al-Hoss has announced that deploying the Lebanese army into Jezzine is "a totally rejected matter." He added that Lebanon will not befallen by the "Israeli trick."
Al-Hoss's statements were made in reply to the statements made by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Arens in which he said that SLA withdrawal from Jezzine will "be a test for Syria's intention towards peace."
Arens hoped that the Syrians will ask the Lebanese army to deploy in the area "to ensure the security of its people."
Lahd stated in a press conference he held at the headquarters of his leadership in Murj Eyoun on the occupied borderline that the Israeli army can bombard Jezzine if it becomes "a place or a passage or a starting point for what is called resistance." Lahd added that his withdrawal from Jezzine is because of the situation in it "can be no longer bear further slow deaths."
However, developments concerning the question of Jezzine and the international-regional contacts are expected to be highlighted in Syrian-Lebanese talks, as Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa will arrive today in Beirut carrying a message from Syrian President Hafez al-Assad to his Lebanese counterpart, Emile Lahoud, with whom he will meet today before noon.
The messages related to developments in the region following the recent Israeli elections and the current efforts made to convene a mini Arab summit for states directly involved in the Middle East peace process including Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority.