Lebanese Officials Offended by Clinton Snub
18 December 1999

According to a report today in the Daily Star, Lebanese officials are upset that Clinton "neglected" to personally update President Emile Lahoud following the resumption of peace talks between Syria and Israel. Clinton "could have telephoned President Emile Lahoud like he did several other Arab leaders involved in the peace talks," said a diplomatic source, adding that this lack of recognition was "negligence because Lebanon is a major party in the peace process."

Hezbollah Officials Divided Over Syrian Request to Reduce Hostilities
21 December 1999

The London-based newspaper Al-Arab al-Alamiyah reported today that Hezbollah officials are deeply divided over a recent Syrian "request" to reduce hostilities against Israeli forces in south Lebanon. The party's leaders spent two days debating the issue, the paper said, but the disagreement "has not reached a point of threatening the party's unity."

Barak Appoints Coordinator for Peace Talks with Lebanon
24 December 1999

Voice of Israel radio reported today that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has appointed Maj.-Gen. Menahem Enan to coordinate preparations for peace talks with Lebanon. Enan is a former chief of the IDF's Planning Branch and served as head of the Israeli military team at peace talks with Lebanon in 1983.

IDF Presents Lebanon Withdrawal Plan to Barak
26 December 1999

Yediot Aharonot reported today that Gabi Ashkenazi, commander of the IDF Northern Command, and Brig-Gen Giyora Eiland have submitted a detailed plan, dubbed New Horizon (Ofek Hadash) for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from south Lebanon to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. According to the plan, the evacuation will begin in February, but the bulk of IDF forces will depart in a final 2-3 day operation in July. IDF forces will withdraw to the 1923 border demarcated by the British, not the 1949 armistice lines. The report estimated that the entire redeployment will cost $250 million. The fate of South Lebanon Army (SLA) militia personnel and outposts was left open to negotiations with Syria and Lebanon.

Police in Paraguay Hunt for Lebanese Suspected of Transferring Funds to Hezbollah
6 January 2000

Government sources in Paraguay said today that counterterrorist agents are searching for a Lebanese man, identified as Ali Hussein Awali, who is suspected of transferring funds from Arab communities in Ciudad del Este and Foz de Iguazu, Brazil to Hezbollah offices in Lebanon, Kenya, and Iran. Two cousins of Awali were expelled from Paraguay to Lebanon in 1998 for carrying false visas.