Lebanon: A senior official warns of Israeli escalation and says there are no guarantees against war. The official said that the danger of Israeli escalation exists and is constant, without a definite time, place or pretext, regardless of the results of the Israeli elections or which leading Israeli figure. He said there are no guarantees from any side, including the Americans, that war will not occur. He warned that after a period UNIFIL forces would be removed, which would leave the south open for Israel to establish its permanent Israel in the area south of Litani, which he called a cause of war and escalation that would return the conflicts to their pre-2000 level.