Israel to control Lebanon zone until forces arrive

JERUSALEM, July 25 (Reuters) Israel intends to control a security zone in southern Lebanon until an international force can be deployed to take it over, Defence Minister Amir Peretz said today.

Israel believes a 10,000- to 20,000-member stabilisation force will be needed and that it could be deployed one to two weeks after Western powers approve it, senior Israeli government officials said.

The estimate of 20,000 would be nearly double the size of the multilateral force being discussed by European powers.

Peretz said Israel would maintain control of the security zone by firing at anyone who enters it. He said the size of the zone would vary. ''It's a line that changes. It depends on the limitations on the ground,'' he told reporters.

Israeli government sources estimated the width of the zone at 3-4 km (1.9-2.5 miles). Western diplomats briefed by the Israeli government said it could be as wide as 5-10 km (3.1-6.2 miles) in some places.

''We have no other option ... We will have to build a new security strip, a security strip that will be a cover for our forces until international forces arrive,'' Peretz said.

Government officials said Israel would keep up its offensive against Hizbollah until the multilateral force begins deploying along the southern border and at crossing points between Lebanon and Syria to prevent Hizbollah from re-arming.

''There cannot be an interim,'' said a senior Israeli government official. ''It would be a free time for Hizbollah to return to the border.'' Asked how long the deployment of the security force would take, the official said: ''The force can be deployed in stages. It can be done in one to two weeks.'' A CEILING OF 20,000 Western diplomats and analysts said the international force would include infantry, armoured units and special forces trained in handling crisis situations.

Diplomats briefed by the Israeli government said the 20,000 figure included logistical support units. A contingent would train the Lebanese army.

A senior Israeli government official described the 20,000 figure as ''a ceiling''. A Western diplomat called it Israel's ''opening bid'' in negotiations over the proposed force.

''It's a lot to ask for an international force ... in a hostile environment,'' said one diplomat briefed on Israel's plans.

Israel wants the proposed force to secure the Lebanese side of the Israeli border with the help the Lebanese army.

Israel and the United States also want to push Hizbollah at least 20 km (12.4 mile) from the border.

Hizbollah is believed to have long-range rockets that could strike the densely populated Tel Aviv area, some 130 km (80 miles) from the southern Lebanese border.

''Unless we stop the resupply (of rockets), 20 km is meaningless,'' an Israeli official said.

One option that Israeli officials said they would not object to is the deployment of Egyptian troops along the Lebanese-Syrian border. Lebanon borders Syria for about 375 km (233 miles) to the north and to the east, and Israel for about 79 km (49 miles) to the south.

''How do you hermetically seal a country that borders on Syria and the sea? It's a huge job,'' another Israeli government official said.

REUTERS MQA PM2139