DATE=4/8/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ISRAEL/LEBANON (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261076
BYLINE=ROSS DUNN
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The head of Israel's army has pledged that no
Israeli military bases will be left inside Lebanese
territory after Israeli troops withdraw in July. Ross
Dunn reports from Jerusalem the general appears to
reject claims that Israel plans to maintain a military
presence north of the border.
TEXT: Lieutenant General Shaul Mofaz, Israel's army
chief-of-staff, says he will withdraw all his troops
and bases from the self-declared security zone in
southern Lebanon.
His pledge is a repudiation of claims by Syrian and
Lebanese officials that Israel would try to keep a
presence in some parts of the area it has occupied
since 1985.
This is an option that Israel's deputy defense
minister, Ephraim Sneh, had said he might want to
retain if there is no peace agreement with Syria,
which controls Lebanon militarily.
General Mofaz said the Israeli army wants to make it
clear to international observers that its withdrawal
from Lebanon would be complete.
He told Israel Television that after the withdrawal
there will be no army presence north of the
international border.
His comments came as Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk
al-Sharaa said in Cairo that both Syria and Lebanon
would welcome an unconditional withdrawal.
Speaking after a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak, Mr. Sharaa said the Israeli withdrawal
represents a victory for the Arab world and for the
militant-Islamic group, Hezbollah, which has engaged
in guerrilla warfare against Israeli troops in
southern Lebanon. (signed)
NEB/RD/DW/JP
08-Apr-2000 12:35 PM EDT (08-Apr-2000 1635 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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