WASHINGTON: Dr Henry Kissinger blames Israel`s inflexibility for the failure of his Middle East peace mission, journalists who accompanied the US Secretary of State said here today [March 24]. According to highranking American officials, Dr Kissinger told President Ford on his return ... that the risk of war in the Middle East cannot be ruled out. ...

Coinciding with the deadlock, authoritative sources in Beirut reported the first Israeli provocation, saying the Lebanese army intercepted an Israeli patrol which entered southern Lebanon yesterday. As a grave Dr Kissinger reported the failure of his M-E mission to an equally grave President Ford Egypt warned against the possibility of renewed war because of Israeli intransigence. ...

Cairo newspapers ... cautioned against an Israeli attack. The influential `Al-Ahram` said ... that the situation was now extremely grave and required maximum alertness. ... Dr Kissinger returned to Washington ... saying the United States remained ready to work with the parties to the conflict and other interested countries in a search for justice and peace in the region. Dr. Kissinger was welcomed by President Ford as his helicopter landed on the White House lawn. News agencies