Ariel Sharon is telling the Americans some very old stories. The Palestinians

are involved in "international terrorism". The south of Lebanon is a "centre

of international terror". There are 2,000 long-range missiles in Lebanon.

This is what he's been telling his American friends in Washington. And it's

exactly what he told Ronald Reagan's administration in 1981 and early 1982.

Then, he was looking for a "green light" for a major military adventure. Is

he doing the same again today? Mr Sharon's first accusation was at the

expense of Lebanon. The Iranians, he announced two months ago, had

shipped through Lebanese airports 2,000 missiles that were capable of

hitting central Israel.

But there are no such missiles in Lebanon. Beirut airport is one of the most

secure in the Middle East and not a single satellite picture has been produced

to support this nonsense. Then last week, Mr Sharon was telling the UN

secretary general, Kofi Annan, that the south of Lebanon has been

"infiltrated by Iran" and is a "centre of international terror". The Lebanese

government, he announced, would be held "responsible".

Which is even more perverse. For, despite several attacks in the past 12

months, southern Lebanon is quieter now than it has been for 25 years.

Israeli and Lebanese casualties in the border area have been the lowest for a