U.S. ALLY QATAR IS INVOLVED IN MEDIATION TO END THE WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE LEBANESE GROUP HIZBOLLAH, SENIOR POLITICAL SOURCES SAID ON SUNDAY. THE SOURCES SAID QATAR, WHICH HAS NOT SIGNED A PEACE TREATY WITH ISRAEL BUT ENJOYS FRIENDLY TIES WITH THE JEWISH STATE, HAD INTENSIFIED ITS DIPLOMACY IN RECENT DAYS DIRECTLY WITH ISRAELI OFFICIALS AND ALSO WITH HIZBOLLAH THROUGH LEBANESE OFFICIALS. "THE QATARIS ARE MEDIATING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HIZBOLLAH TO END THE CURRENT CRISIS IN LEBANON," ONE SENIOR POLITICAL SOURCE TOLD REUTERS. THE SOURCES DID NOT GIVE DETAILS. ISRAEL'S FOREIGN MINISTRY WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT.
