U.S. lauds Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon

JERUSALEM -- The United States supports Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon and hopes for stability in the area.

In a telephone call to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Sunday, U.S. President Bill expressed support of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Clinton lauded the way in which it [the withdrawal] was carried out," and said he hoped that the border area would remain quiet, officials at the prime minister's office said.

"There is no reason at this point for anybody to attack Israel," White House National Security Adviser Samuel Berger said Sunday. "Israel has withdrawn from Lebanon. Hopefully this week or soon, the U.N. will certify that this has been done in compliance with the U.N. resolution 425."

Berger said that the U.S. and Israel would now work towards achieving an agreement on the Palestinian track. "The importance of moving very expeditiously to try to make progress towards a framework agreemnet sometine in the next month or so in those very important negotiations."

Clinton and Barak may meet this weekend in Germany or the week of June 11 in Washington. Last week's scheduled summit meeting was canceled due to clashes between Palestinians and Israeli troops in the West Bank.