 Lebanese and Syrian officials had long lamented Israel's 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon, demanding that Israel withdraw unconditionally, in conformity with United Nations resolutions. Now that Israel has stated its readiness to stage such a withdrawal, the Syrian regime of Hafez Assad and its vassals in Beirut are complaining that a unilateral Israeli restoration of Lebanon's territorial integrity would be a dirty trick. Immediately after the Israeli Cabinet's withdrawal resolution Sunday, Lebanon's Prime Minister Selim al-Hoss said: ''We wish the pullout will take place in accordance with an agreement. But should Israel decide to withdraw unilaterally, Lebanon would accept that.'' Once the Lebanese authorities had a chance to receive their instructions from Damascus, however, the tone and substance of their reaction changed utterly. On Monday, Lebanon's information minister, Anwar Khalil, warned that a withdrawal from Lebanon would not bring security to northern Israel unless Israel also withdrew from the Golan Heights as part of a comprehensive peace. The Lebanese information minister minced no words as he explained that his government could not let Israel use its pledged withdrawal as leverage in negotiations with Syria. ''Stripping this card from the hands of Syria will never take place with the acquiescence of Lebanon,'' he said. ''We will in no way allow any pressure on Syria through using the Lebanese card.'' This was an extraordinary demonstration of Lebanese subservience to Syria, reminding the world that the freedom of Lebanon will require not only Israel's retreat from southern Lebanon but also a subsequent withdrawal of the 40,000 troops of Syria's occupation force. This story ran on page A18 of the Boston Globe on 3/8/2000. © Copyright 2000 Globe Newspaper Company. |