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Last update - 14:33 28/06/2009
Israel: Lebanon still responsible for any Hezbollah attacks
By Haaretz Service and Reuters
Tags: Israel News, Lebanon 

Israel on Sunday warned the incoming Lebanese government that Beirut would be held to account in the event Hezbollah launches attacks against the north.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted to the formation of a new government in Lebanon, a coalition that is likely to include seven ministers from Hezbollah.

In light of Hezbollah's entry into the government, Netanyahu said that Israel would view the Lebanese government responsible for any offensive action taken against it from its neighbor to the north.
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During the cabinet meeting, Welfare Minister Yitzhak Herzog asked Netanyahu if the political developments in Lebanon were a topic of conversation in talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Netanyahu replied that the topic was indeed discussed. He stated that any government with significant Hezbollah representation cannot disclaim responsibility for attacks against Israel.

Lebanon's newly appointed Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri said on Saturday he would seek forming a national unity government but warned his task would be difficult.

"In line with our commitment during the election campaign in favour of a national unity government in which the main parliamentary blocs are represented ... we will begin consultations with all parliamentary blocs ...," Hariri said after meeting President Michel Suleiman.

Suleiman earlier appointed Hariri as prime minister-designate on Saturday, charging him with the task of forming a new government that would turn the page on four years of turmoil.

Suleiman issued a presidential decree designating Sunni Muslim Hariri after 86 parliamentarians in the 128-seat assembly nominated him for the post.

Hariri, who is backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia, led a political coalition to victory against Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its allies in this month's election. He is the son of statesman Rafik al-Hariri whose assassination in 2005 plunged Lebanon into the worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.

Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system reserves the premiership for a Sunni.

In a sign of the difficulties the 39-year-old leader faces in forming a cabinet acceptable to all sides, Hezbollah and its Christian allies refrained from nominating him.

Only 15 out of the minority alliance's 57 deputies backed him in two days of consultations with Suleiman, adding to support from Hariri's 71 deputies.

The main stumbling block facing Hariri is likely to be demands by militant group Hezbollah and its allies that they hold veto power in a new unity government. Hariri rejects such a veto but will seek to get the minority to participate in the government.

Hariri has been keen on securing the backing of his powerful Shi'ite rivals, who are close allies of neighboring Syria, to ensure a smooth launch for his administration.

Immediately after the June 7 election, he called for the contentious issue of disarming Hezbollah to be shelved. The group, labeled a terrorist organization by the United States, has battled Israeli forces since the early 1980s.

Hariri, who led a U.S.-backed coalition to victory over Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its allies in this month's election, met Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah overnight Thursday.

A joint statement said the men, who had only met once before in three years, had held talks and discussed the outcome of the election and the possible shape of the new government.

"They also agreed on continuing discussions in the current positive calm atmosphere and stressed the logic of dialogue, cooperation and openness," it said.
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  1.   Yeah, Israel`s statement is correct. 14:47  |  Johnboy 28/06/09
  2.   Johnboy 15:38  |  Sabra 28/06/09
  3.   In Preparation for The Third Lebanon War 15:38  |  Mark Lincoln 28/06/09
  4.   Johnboy 1 15:41  |  sabra 28/06/09
  5.   Idem 18:25  |  Peter 28/06/09
  6.   why not Hamas at government? 19:28  |  ralph is back 28/06/09
  7.   sabra 4 19:28  |  potobac 28/06/09
  8.   Preparation fot a third war 20:00  |  Piotr Kowalsky 28/06/09
  9.   Re Sabra rationale for disproportionate force 20:05  |  Piotr Kowalsky 28/06/09
  10.   #1 Johnboy - define proportionate 20:14  |  Urani Diot 28/06/09
  11.   An open letter to Shalom-Salaam 20:14  |  Jasmine Murphy 28/06/09
  12.   An open letter to Shalom-Salaam 20:15  |  Jasmine Murphy 28/06/09
  13.   The attackers certainly did not use PROPORTIONATE force 21:25  |  No Dope 28/06/09
  14.   John Boy: Proportionality 21:46  |  Brad 28/06/09
  15.   Jassmine Murphy 22:27  |  liberaci 28/06/09
  16.   One irony of Israeli policy towards Lebanon 23:01  |  Mark Lincoln 28/06/09
  17.   Hizbullah will not attack Israel, Natanyahu should 23:01  |  justis 28/06/09
  18.   brad 14 23:39  |  potobac 28/06/09
  19.   Hezbollah will not....... 01:16  |  Arnold 29/06/09
  20.   Peace not War 01:42  |  The Prophet 29/06/09
  21.   #4, SABRA, i`ll remember that when israel is hit hard 03:57  |  VIPER 29/06/09
  22.   #10, URAN IDIOT, allow me 04:02  |  VIPER 29/06/09
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