Chamoun: let’s find out if Israel is serious about
Nicholas Blanford
and Mona Ziade
Daily Star staff
The government’s refusal to negotiate with the Jewish
state over
Resolution 425, paving the way for an ultimate Israeli
withdrawal from the south, could lead to a far worse
situation in
the beleaguered area, warned the leader of the National
Liberal
Party (NLP), Dory Chamoun.
In an interview with The Daily Star, Chamoun argued
that after
recent contacts with US administration officials he
became
convinced the Israelis are willing to leave Lebanon,
and urged
the government to take advantage of this.
One of the government’s biggest shortcomings, according
to
Chamoun, is its inability to display some flexibility
on the issue
of Israeli occupation, which is jeopardising political
and
economic stability nation-wide. “What I’m afraid of is
that the
position of the Lebanese government, which demands the
implementation of Resolution 425 to the letter without
any
accommodation for the Israeli view, would push Israel
to a point
whereby it will create a far worse situation in the
south than
already exists,” he said.
Added Chamoun: “Lebanon should first establish whether
Israel’s intentions to withdraw are serious. If they
are, then I
believe that it’s worthwhile for us to shed some
feathers”. The
government, he suggested, could seek an accommodation
by
displaying leniency towards the militiamen of the South
Lebanon Army.
Email: yona@netvision.net.il