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DATE=5/31/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250030
TITLE=ISRAEL / LEBANON (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE ISRAELI-BACKED SOUTH LEBANON ARMY MILITIA, THE S-L-A,
HAS ANNOUNCED IT IS WITHDRAWING FROM THE CHRISTIAN TOWN OF 
JEZZINE NORTH OF ISRAEL'S OCCUPATION ZONE IN LEBANON.   AS 
V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM, THE S-L-A HAS BEEN 
UNDER HEAVY MILITARY PRESSURE FROM PRO-IRANIAN HEZBOLLAH 
GUERRILLAS.
TEXT:  THE PULLOUT WAS CONFIRMED BY THE S-L-A COMMANDER -- 
ANTOINE LAHD -- WHO TOLD REPORTERS IN THE MILITIA STRONGHOLD OF 
MARJAYOUN THAT THE S-L-A IS LEAVING JEZZINE BECAUSE OF A 
DANGEROUS TURN IN THE SECURITY SITUATION.
FINANCED AND ARMED BY ISRAEL, THE 25-HUNDRED MEMBER S-L-A HAS 
CONTROLLED JEZZINE SINCE ISRAEL SET UP ITS SELF-DECLARED SECURITY
ZONE IN SOUTH LEBANON SINCE 1985.
THE WITHDRAWAL -- TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN TWO WEEKS -- COMES IN 
THE FACE OF A FURIOUS OFFENSIVE BY HEZBOLLAH GUERRILLAS WHO HAVE 
KILLED OR WOUNDED SCORES OF S-L-A MEMBERS INCLUDING SENIOR 
OFFICERS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF YEAR.
IN AN ISRAEL ARMY RADIO INTERVIEW, OUTGOING DEFENSE MINISTER 
MOSHE ARENS REJECTED SUGGESTIONS THAT THE S-L-A PULLOUT SIGNALS 
THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR ISRAEL'S PRESENCE IN LEBANON.
AT THE SAME TIME, MR. ARENS CALLED ON SYRIA -- THE CONTROLLING 
POWER IN LEBANON -- TO ENSURE SECURITY IN THE JEZZINE AREA AND 
SUGGESTED THAT IF IT HAPPENS, IT WOULD ENHANCE PROSPECTS FOR AN 
EVENTUAL ISRAELI DEPARTURE.
A LEADING ISRAELI EXPERT ON LEBANON AND THE HEZBOLLAH MOVEMENT, 
CLINTON BAILEY, SAYS THE SHIITE-MUSLIM GUERRILLAS HAVE THEIR OWN 
AGENDA, BUT THAT SYRIA DOES HAVE THE POWER TO REIGN IN -- IF  NOT
ENTIRELY SHUT DOWN -- HEZBOLLAH ATTACKS:
                   ///  BAILEY ACTUALITY  ///
         SYRIA CERTAINLY COULD HAMPER, AND EVEN BRING ABOUT AN 
         END, TO HEZBOLLAH OPERATIONS BY CLOSING DOWN 
         COMMUNICATION BETWEEN IRAN AND HEZBOLLAH, THE MONEY, THE
         MUNITIONS AND THE TRAINING THAT COMES VIA DAMASCUS TO 
         LEBANON, AND ALSO THE FACT THAT THE SYRIANS CONTROL THE 
         AREA WHERE HEZBOLLAH HAS MOST OF ITS FORCES, IN OTHER 
         WORDS, THE BEKAA VALLEY.  IT MEANS THAT HEZBOLLAH COULD 
         BE CURBED BY SYRIA, IF SYRIA WANTED TO. 
                        ///  END ACT  ///
MR. BAILEY, OF HEBREW UNIVERSITY, SAYS THE ISRAELI POSITION IN 
LEBANON IS WEAKENING BECAUSE OF SELF-IMPOSED LIMITS ON MILITARY 
OPERATIONS AGAINST HEZBOLLAH, AND DOMESTIC POLITICAL PRESSURE FOR
A WITHDRAWAL. 
PRIME MINISTER ELECT EHUD BARAK HAS PLEDGED TO GET ISRAELI TROOPS
OUT OF LEBANON WITHIN A YEAR AS PART OF BROADER PEACE 
ARRANGEMENTS WITH SYRIA AND LEBANON.
MR. BAILEY AND OTHER ANALYSTS SAY MR. BARAK'S DEADLINE HAS BEEN 
UNSETTLING FOR THE S-L-A, WHOSE MEMBERS WORRIED ABOUT THEIR 
SAFETY ONCE ISRAEL DEPARTS.  (SIGNED) 
NEB/DAG/JWH
31-May-99 9:25 AM EDT (1325 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.