DATE=3/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ISRAEL/LEBANON (L)
NUMBER=2-259854
BYLINE=JENNY BADNER
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Israeli Cabinet has voted unanimously to
withdraw its forces from south Lebanon by July, but
says it wants to carry out the redeployment within the
framework of a peace agreement. Jenny Badner reports
from Jerusalem.
TEXT: The Israeli Cabinet has unanimously approved
Prime Minister Ehud Barak's plan to withdraw armed
forces from south Lebanon by July of this year. After
a lengthy cabinet debate on the Israeli occupation of
south Lebanon, the government said it prefers to carry
out a withdrawal in the framework of a peace
agreement.
Cabinet Secretary Yitzhak Herzog presented the
government's decision after the meeting.
/// HERZOG ACT ///
The government of Israel today has unanimously
decided as follows; "A", the Israeli Defense
Forces will deploy on the border with Lebanon by
July 2000, and from there will secure the safety
of the northern towns and villages of Israel.
"B", the government will act to ensure that this
deployment will be carried out in the framework
of an agreement.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Barak says he would like to pull soldiers out of
Lebanon as part of a peace agreement with Syria.
In its decision, the government appears to have opened
the door for the possibility of a withdrawal without a
peace treaty.
/// HERZOG 2nd ACT ///
In the event that conditions will not be
conducive to I-D-F (Israeli Defense Forces)
deployment in the framework of an agreement, the
government will convene at an appropriate time,
to discuss the method of implementation of the
above-mentioned decision.
/// END ACT ///
Israel occupies a self-styled security zone in south
Lebanon, which it says it needs to protect towns near
its northern border from rocket attacks by Hezbollah
(Party of God) guerrillas.
Recently, public pressure has mounted on the Israeli
government to pull its soldiers out of south Lebanon.
Syria, which has about 30-thousand soldiers in
Lebanon, is viewed as the main power broker in the
country. Israel and Syria resumed peace negotiations
late last year, but the talks are currently stalled.
Mr. Barak says Israel and Syria have had no direct
contacts, and he does not know when peace negotiations
will resume.
Diplomats from the United States and other countries
have been working behind the scenes in an attempt to
bring Israel and Syria back to the bargaining table.
(SIGNED)
NEB/JB/ALW/RAE
05-Mar-2000 13:20 PM EDT (05-Mar-2000 1820 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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