Withdrawal symptoms

Israel wants to quickly withdraw from South Lebanon in line with a UN resolution, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told UN Chief Ko...

Israel wants to quickly withdraw from South Lebanon in line with a UN resolution, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told UN Chief Kofi Annan. But Annan, mindful of the political minefield in South Lebanon where a UN peacekeeping force is deployed, hesitated to mediate in the process until political and security arrangements have been worked out among the regional players.

8220;The impression is that this thing is not going to happen right away. The security arrangements need to be agreed,8221; a UN official said after Netanyahu and Annan met.

Netanyahu, a former Israeli envoy to the UN, implied that the ball was now in the UN court in comments to reporters after he held private talks and lunched with the Ghanaian UN secretary-general.

Netanyahu reiterated his cabinet8217;s April 1 decision 8220;to accept UN resolution 425 and to expedite as soon as we can a withdrawal from Lebanon, under the stipulations contained in the resolution. If the UN wishes to take up this decision, obviously Israel would respondpositively,8221; he added.

Netanyahu, addressing objections from Lebanon and Syria which say the withdrawal should take place unconditionally in line with the 20-year old resolution, said: 8220;We added no conditions.8221;

Israeli officials point out that the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon UNIFIL, which was set up by resolution 425, contains provisions for the restoration of international peace and security in the border region.

But Lebanon and its powerful protector Syria are refusing Israel8217;s offer to negotiate, arguing that the withdrawal can only take place in the context of an overall Middle East settlement, including an Israeli withdrawal from the Syrian Golan Heights.

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The Lebanese government has said that the Israeli offer of negotiations is a ploy aimed at proving that the resolution cannot be implemented in the tense border zone where Israeli-backed and Islamic militia are present.

Western diplomats say that both Syria and Lebanon have told Annan to keep out of the issue. Annan is nowcautious after initially welcoming Israel8217;s offer to withdraw, and calling for discussions.

He has set up a task force to look into the implications of an Israeli withdrawal for the United Nations. But no recommendations on increasing the 4,500-strong UNIFIL can take place until the political context is known, UN officials said. Annan8217;s spokesman Fred Eckhard said that Annan was still in listening mode, and would not take a 8220;leading diplomatic role8221; at this point.

Annan, who established a good relationship with Netanyahu during a visit to Jerusalem in March, also raised the issue of nine Palestinians who were killed during protests linked to Israel8217;s 50th anniversary. Annan said earlier he was 8220;deeply disturbed8221; by the deaths, which he said highlighted the need for an overall peace settlement.