Israeli media reported Israel has informed mediators it will refuse further
withdrawals from southern Lebanon at next week’s Rome talks. Israel’s core
demand is assurance of operational freedom — the right to re-enter areas it
handed to the Lebanese army last week when necessary. Officials say Israel will
not agree to additional pullbacks unless that operational freedom is secured,
and will not permit further withdrawals south of the "yellow line" until
HEZBOLLAH is fully disarmed. An Israeli official added no more territory will be
conceded within Israel’s consolidated defensive lines.
