Israeliand Lebanese military teams continued their talks at Nakura under United Nations auspices Wednesday. But the search for an agreement was sidetracked by Lebanese charges that the Israelis were undermining the negotiations for the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Force from south Lebanon and security for Israel’s northern borders.
In the latest development, the head of the Lebanese delegation, Gen. Mohammed AI-Haj, accused Israel of reneging on agreements reached at previous sessions. The Israelis rejected the charge and the talks recessed to allow them to formulate an official reply.
According to AI-Haj, Israel has backed off from its earlier agreement to allow the Lebanese regular army to deploy in several areas to be evacuated by the IDF on grounds that those areas are too close to the border. AI-Haj also demanded a detailed map of all Israeli deployments in south Lebanon, an exact date for the start of the IDF withdrawal and a timetable for the puil–out of Israeli troops.
The Israeli delegation presented a detailed plan for security in the northern sector between the Awali and Zaharani rivers. Israel proposed that the region be staffed by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) but would not object if Lebanese regulars were also deployed in that region in conjunction with the UNIFIL force.
Israel has been insisting all along, however, that the zone closest to its border be policed by the South Lebanon Army (SLA) commanded by Gen. Antoine Lehad, a largely Christian force supported by Israel. The Lebanese to date refuse to recognize the SLA.
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