DATE=2/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ISRAEL / LEBANON (L)
NUMBER=2-259520
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICE AT:
INTRO: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is rejecting
Arab criticism of Israel's recent air strikes on
targets in Lebanon. Correspondent Meredith Buel
reports from Jerusalem.
TEXT: Prime Minister Barak says the fierce rhetoric
following Israel's bombing raids in Lebanon will not
help Middle East peace efforts.
/// BARAK ACT ///
I do not think that rhetoric by itself can solve
profound issues of the people of the Middle
East. I strongly condemn the kind of
expressions that came from Beirut and other
corners of the Middle East in the last few days.
We have to concentrate on putting the peace
process back on track in order to provide a
better future for all the people of this region.
This government, in Jerusalem, under my
leadership is determined to do exactly this.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Barak spoke to reporters at a Jerusalem news
conference one day after Israeli Foreign Minister
David Levy warned that Lebanon will - burn, blood for
blood, soul for soul, child for child - if Hezbollah
guerrillas attack civilian targets in northern Israel.
Mr. Barak defended his foreign minister, calling him
an important, responsible partner in the peace
process.
Israeli warplanes bombed power stations in Lebanon
earlier this month in retaliation for guerrilla
attacks on Israeli soldiers.
Mr. Levy says his remarks are a warning to Hezbollah
which, in the past, has fired rockets into Israeli
communities near the border with Lebanon.
/// LEVY ACT - IN HEBREW - UNDER ENGLISH TRANSLATION
///
We do not have a policy to hurt civilians. We have
avoided it until now. But the government's decision
is that, if our communities are harmed, the reaction
will be very grave. There is no one who can promise
that civilians will not be harmed.
/// END ACT ///
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Barak met with
French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. The French
leader indicated a willingness to commit soldiers to a
peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, if Syria and
Lebanon sign a peace treaty with Israel.
Peace talks between Israel and Syria were suspended
indefinitely last month.
Syria has 30-thousand soldiers in Lebanon and is
considered the major power broker in the country.
(SIGNED)
NEB/MB/JWH/ENE/RAE
24-Feb-2000 10:33 AM EDT (24-Feb-2000 1533 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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