Netanyahu to Announce Wednesday Plans for Ghajar Withdrawal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will likely announce this week his government”s plans to withdraw from the Lebanese town of Ghajar, a senior Israeli official said in comments published Sunday.
"Netanyahu wants to respond to the American request on the matter (of Ghajar)," the source told the Israeli daily Haaretz.
The prime minister is expected to make an announcement on Wednesday after the security Cabinet session, the official added.
U.S. special envoy George Mitchell raised the issue last month in talks with Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in Israel.
"He asked that Israel carry out the withdrawal as promised when Ehud Olmert was prime minister," Haaretz said.
Under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, Israel is required to withdraw from all Lebanese territories.
The timing of the report precedes Netanyahu”s trip to Washington on May 17, his first since becoming prime minister in March.
Netanyahu "wants to make a decision before his departure for Washington to be seen by the U.S. president as someone who can deliver the goods and carry out diplomatic moves," a Western diplomat told Haaretz.
An announcement also comes as Lebanon gears up for crucial elections on June 7.
"The idea of offering a goodwill gesture ahead of the elections is obvious, but a debate is underway … on how best to do it, and a decision will be made this week," the Israeli official said.
But he added that any withdrawal "would not take place before the Lebanese elections."
"Everyone is aware of the narrow timescale," he told Haaretz. "Therefore, first a statement in principle on Israel”s position, to be followed by practical action on the ground soon after."