Lebanese Oppose Normalization of Ties With "Israel"

author: CNN 20 February 1998
summary: BEIRUT, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Only 10 percent of Lebanese want relations with "Israel" completely normalized if peace is reached between the two countries, a survey issued on Thursday said.
The majority of Lebanese also believe Israel would pose economic, military and technological threats to Lebanon in peaceful times, said the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper, which printed the first part of the survey a day earlier.‏
The poll was conducted by the Beirut-based Center for Development Studies and Projects for Al-Hayat. It included a random sample of 1,513 Lebanese from across Lebanon -- with the exception of "Israeli"-occupied south Lebanon -- and was carried out during the second half of January.‏
A majority of 65 percent did not believe Israel would implement a 1978 U.N resolution calling for its troops to withdraw from south Lebanon before peace is achieved with both Syria and Lebanon.‏
Only 22 percent said it was possible and 13 percent were undecided.‏
Asked if normalization should be partial, complete or non-existent if a peace deal is struck between Lebanon and "Israel", 42 percent said they wanted no normalization while 23 percent were undecided.‏
"It is worth noting that only 10 percent of those included in the poll believe there should be complete normalisation with Israel if peace between Lebanon and Syria on one hand and "Israel" on the other hand is accomplished," Al-Hayat said.‏
Maronites, Sunnis and Shi`ites came highest on the opposition list with 45 percent totally rejecting the notion of complete normalisation.‏
Some 73 percent of the total sample said "Israel" would pose an economic threat to Lebanon in peaceful times. Percentages varied between 94 percent in the Beqaa Valley and 64 percent among south Lebanon inhabitants.‏
In detail, 71 percent thought "Israel" would be threatening on the technological level and 65 percent thought there could be harm to tourism.‏
Some 75 percent of the Lebanese said "Israel" would be a military danger even after a comprehensive peace between "Israel" and the Arabs. The survey noted a sharp variation by area, with 92 percent of residents of the Beqaa emphasising a military danger versus only 49 percent in the south.‏
Some 32 percent expected an escalation of fighting in south Lebanon this year while 39 percent said activity would be at 1997 levels. Only 13 percent said military tension would ease.‏
The Shi`ite Hizbullah is leading the fighting against "Israeli" troops and their local militia allies occupying the 15-km (nine mile)-wide buffer zone in the south.‏
Last year, south Lebanon violence killed 39 "Israelis", 22 pro-"Israeli" militiamen, 65 resistance guerrillas, 47 Lebanese civilians and six Lebanese army troops.‏
The findings of the first part of the survey said more than 70 percent of Lebanese believed peace with Israel could not be reached with the current Likud-led "Israeli" government.‏
It also revealed that almost 80 percent believed Lebanese-"Israeli" and Syrian-"Israeli" peace tracks would remain frozen in 1998, while 48 percent thought they would not be revived within the coming three years.‏