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DATE=4/26/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ISRAEL / LEBANON (L-O)
NUMBER=2-261737
BYLINE=ROSS DUNN
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Israel is quietly preparing to reinforce its 
international border with Lebanon.  Ross Dunn reports 
from Jerusalem that the move comes before a planned 
pullout of Israeli troops from a self-declared 
security zone in southern Lebanon.
TEXT:  Visible signs have begun to appear along the 
northern border of the Jewish state, indicating that 
Israel is preparing to implement its promise to 
withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon.
Cranes and other heavy construction equipment have 
been moved up to the border, under the guard of 
Israeli soldiers.
Israeli military officials declined to identify 
exactly what is being built, but confirmed that the 
work is part of an effort to improve defenses in the 
north before the planned pullout from southern 
Lebanon.
The officials say they are also repositioning the 
border fence so it will be in accordance with Israel's 
international boundary with Lebanon.
Israel says it is making the changes in order to 
demonstrate to the world that the withdrawal is full 
and complete, so there can be no suggestion any 
military outposts have been left behind.
The operations are in keeping with Israeli Prime 
Minister, Ehud Barak's pledge to voters that his 
government would withdraw all soldiers from southern 
Lebanon by July.  He had hoped to implement the 
pullback with the support of Syria, which has about 
30-thousand troops in Lebanon, making it the country's 
main power broker.
But after peace talks with Syria were suspended 
earlier this year, Prime Minister Barak said the 
withdrawal would go ahead with or without a peace 
treaty between Jerusalem and Damascus.
Mr. Barak acknowledges that a unilateral pullout could 
risk provoking a new conflict in the region.  But he 
warns Israel will react harshly against those who dare 
to attack its soldiers or communities along the 
northern border, during or following the planned troop 
withdrawal.   (SIGNED)
NEB/RD/GE/RAE 
26-Apr-2000 10:12 AM EDT (26-Apr-2000 1412 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.