Barak will withdraw next year from Lebanon

The Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has stated that the next Hebrew year will witness the Israeli army outside the security zone in South Lebanon and deployed along the international borders.

In an interview he made on Friday commenting on statements made by the Lebanese President Emile Lahoud in that if an agreement is reached between Israel and each of Syria and Lebanon " there will be no way for the Hizbullah party." Barak stressed that he views these statements as positive, adding that the main objective of his policy is to reach a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

On the relations between Egypt and Israel, Barak expressed his hope that these relations will be developed following the signing of the Sharm al-Sheikh agreement.

On Israel's relations with Jordan, Barak said that " he and the Jordanian King Abdullah are working to give these relations large impetus."