Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., July 13, 2008 Tamuz 10, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:52 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Defense officials: Renew diplomatic pressure on Syria as Hezbollah rearms By Amos Harel Tags: hezbollah, tzipi livni  Senior defense officials believe that Israel should resume diplomatic pressure to halt Syrian weapon transfers to Hezbollah. Defense Minister Ehud Barak Thursday warned of the repercussions of the weapons smuggling, which he said are in violation of Security Council Resolution 1701 that led to the ending of the Second Lebanon War in 2006. Despite the indirect peace negotiations with Syria, the arms smuggling to Lebanon is continuing weekly, officers said. An officer told Haaretz that Israel should not demand that Syria cuts off its relations with Hezbollah, but focus on halting the arms smuggling in peace talks. Advertisement The clause referring to this in Resolution 1701 was never enforced by the international community. Last week Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni resumed the demand to disarm Hezbollah. IDF officers do not see this is a realistic goal in the near future, and believe that Israel should focus on dealing with the open border between Lebanon and Syria. Barak said at Labor's faction meeting Thursday that Resolution 1701 is gradually being eroded and Hezbollah "has doubled and perhaps tripled the quantity of its missiles." Barak warned heads of state, foreign and defense ministers around the world of the "significance of disrupting the extremely delicate balance in Lebanon," and called on them once again to "enforce on Hezbollah all that appears in 1701." On Wednesday, members of the security cabinet were told Hezbollah has an arsenal of 40,000 rockets ready to be fired at Israel, three times more than at the start of the Second Lebanon War. The prime minister called Wednesday's meeting of the security cabinet to discuss what he said were violations by the Shiite Hezbollah of UN Resolution 1701 which ended the 34-day war. The resolution called for the disarming of all militias - an allusion to Hezbollah as well as to Palestinian militant groups - and the prevention of illegal arms sales and smuggling operations in Lebanon. Related articles: Prisoner exchange with Hezbollah set for Wednesday Olmert: Hezbollah's Nasrallah 'scared to death' of Israel The sole achievement has been erased Bookmark to del.icio.us   Smoking kills Tehran slams McCain for saying cigarettes could be used to kill Iranians. Case of deja vu Olmert and his office chief Shula Zaken were accused of similar charges back in 1991.   1.   Resolution 1701 was a great success 07:01  |  Natallie Durson 11/07/08   2.   We should beat the Hezbullah to the ground 07:51  |  Jean Van Daem 11/07/08   3.   Natallie`s analysis of 1701, spot on! 07:53  |  BBSNews 11/07/08   4.   Nut-alie, Hezbo is not a `side` it is a terrorist organization 08:40  |  Dan 11/07/08   5.   For Jean van Daem, On The Waterfront # 2 09:37  |  Clickfool 11/07/08   6.   Resolution 1701 has been a total failure 09:39  |  Margaret Connell 11/07/08   7.   hypocrates 10:53  |  Mark 11/07/08   8.   RESOLUTION 1701 MERT TURNED INTO PIECE;THE PIECE GOLAN/ASSAD AND 17:56  |  glenna 11/07/08   9.   Resolutions and pressure 19:41  |  Dudka 11/07/08   10.   the `pressure` is on its way. 21:54  |  hiroshima tehran 11/07/08   11.   Margaret Connell, funny you should mention thirst... 00:12  |  BBSNews 12/07/08   12.   Hey Dan, I don`t think you are anywhere near Haifa... 07:02  |  BBSNews 12/07/08

Read & React Did Iran doctor an image of its missile test launch? Responses: 208 Hitler's bodyguard: The Fuhrer was a good boss Responses: 160 Olmert suspected of defrauding state, charities to fund trips abroad Responses: 76 Ari Shavit: The real problem is America Responses: 164 H.A. Hellyer: Who speaks for Europe's Muslims? Responses: 68 More Headlines 00:51 Olmert: Reports I defrauded charities are distorted, despicable 22:48 Hezbollah hands report on Ron Arad over to Israel 01:44 Sarkozy asks Syria to help resolve Iran nuclear crisis 20:10 Friends of captive IDF soldiers mark two years since Hezbollah raid 21:57 Tehran slams McCain for saying cigarettes could be used to kill Iranians 17:29 Report: Berlin man who tore off head of Hitler waxwork to escape fine 20:47 ANALYSIS / Two years on, IDF is starting to look like an army that can fight a war 20:46 Dichter: Recent terror attacks in Jerusalem are not start of new intifada 17:12 Senior Tehran official: Iran would destroy Israel if attacked 07:17 Former U.S. diplomat gets year in prison for anti-Arab remarks 14:00 Hezbollah: Second Lebanon War was biggest Israeli defeat ever 14:26 Qassam hits western Negev in new Gaza truce violation Previous Editions Select Day 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul 01 jul 30 jun 29 jun

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