Israel fears attack at Shebaa plateau

JERUSALEM [MENL] -- Israeli military officials are concerned that Hizbullah and Palestinian opposition groups will attack Israeli targets in the disputed Shebaa plateau.

The military assessment is that tensions will escalate after the United Nations ascertains that Israel has complied with U.N. Security Council Resolution 425.

Israel has begun deploying elite commando units in the area in preparation for any escalation in tension, despite the apparent calm on Monday after Israel destroyed part of its larger outposts near Kibbutz Manara, completing the withdrawal from the western part of the position along the border.

In Beirut, Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah told a mass rally that the Israeli withdrawal is "a major victory. But as long as the Shebaa farms area is still under occupation, we do not consider what happened a complete withdrawal. This means that we will continue our jihad to liberate this occupied territory."

Nasrallah is also demanding the release of all Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners.

In Jerusalem, Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy reversed his initial rejection of a suggestion by U.N. special envoy Terje Larsen to release Lebanese prisoners. Levy said Monday that that Israel might be willing to release Lebanese prisoners, if this would induce calm in the area.

"We will consider it. We are always considering it," Levy told Israel Television Monday night.

Meanwhile, Israel has distributed weapons to northern residents.