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Al-Ahram Weekly 4 - 10 May 2000 Issue No. 480 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 4 - 10 May 2000 Issue No. 480
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Special Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Israel must go
Any Israeli withdrawal from occupied Arab land is a good thing in and of itself. The difficulties of implementation must not blind us to this fact when considering the case of Lebanon. We must not make these difficulties the criterion by which we judge the principle of withdrawal itself.
Secondly, while it is true that the withdrawal will benefit Israel -- were that not the case, it would never have accepted to leave Lebanon -- it will benefit the Arabs first and foremost, and we must not resent or resist it just because it will also be good for Israel.
Third, the UN General Assembly has issued a clear, unequivocal declaration calling upon Israel to withdraw unconditionally from the Lebanese land it occupies.
On the other hand, if by its withdrawal Israel is attempting to put Syria on a war footing, we must deal with that situation independently of the withdrawal itself. In other words, the withdrawal must take place; then it will be up to Lebanon to settle matters with Syria within an Arab framework -- perhaps through the Arab League, since Syria justifies its presence in Lebanon by a resolution the League issued. I do not feel that this will weaken Syria's position in the Golan, since no one condones Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights. Israel will not be able to defy the international community forever, especially when its withdrawal from Lebanon focuses attention on its occupation of the Golan.
Based on an interview by Mohamed Salmawy.
