New government ‘must prevent attacks’

8 Jun 2009, 6:52 pm   -   Source: AFP
Share This

The new government in Lebanon must act to prevent attacks from its territory, the Israeli foreign ministry said following elections in Beirut won by a pro-Western coalition.

RELATED

The new government in Lebanon must act to prevent attacks from its territory, the Israeli foreign ministry said following elections in Beirut won by a pro-Western coalition.

"It is incumbent upon any government that is formed in Beirut to ensure that Lebanon will not be used as a base for violence against the state of Israel and against Israelis," the ministry said in a statement.

Security ‘must be strengthened’

"The government of Lebanon must act to strengthen the country's stability and security, to stop arms smuggling into its territory and to implement the relevant Security Council resolutions."

"Israel considers the Lebanese government responsible for any military or otherwise hostile activity that emanates from its territory."

Israel fought a 34-day war with Lebanon's Hezbollah militia in July-August 2006 that killed more than 1,200 people in Lebanon, most of them civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

The conflict ended with a ceasefire resolution adopted by the UN Security Council that demanded the disarming of all militant groups in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, and an end to arms smuggling across its borders.

Weapons off-limits: Hezbollah

The Western-backed coalition that won power has also been warned by Hezbollah that its weapons arsenal was not a subject open to discussion.

"The majority must commit not to question our role as a resistance party, the legitimacy of our weapons arsenal and the fact that Israel is an enemy state," Hezbollah member Mohamed Raad told AFP.
 

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube