Note: The following letter was printed in Middle East International (24 March 2000, #621)

Sir:

Re the supposed unilateral Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon (MEI, 620), the simple fact is that Israel cannot and will not leave the Lebanese territory it occupies because it cannot afford to give up the water that it gets from there and from the Golan without a substantial decrease in the Israeli standard of living.

All talk, therefore, of a pull out is merely Israeli propaganda and a sham by which to disguise some kind of poltical/military operation (including, I fear, all out-war if necessary) which will put off Israeli withdrawal indefinitely.

Ronald Bleier