WORLD IN BRIEF : ISRAEL : Israel Says Syria Exploits Lebanon

Israel accused Syria of fighting a proxy war against Israel in Lebanon hoping to extract gains at deadlocked Middle East peace talks. Guerrillas have killed six Israeli soldiers in July, the bloodiest month in nearly three years for Israeli forces in Lebanon. Deputy Defense Minister Mordechai Gur said, “They certainly exploit the Lebanon front to attack us and also to push us on issues that are important to them in the peace process.” Israel and Syria have made little progress in nearly 21 months of peace talks. Syria demands total withdrawal from the Golan Heights captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War. Israel won’t discuss the extent of withdrawal unless assured of full peace.