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Hezbollah supporters fixing the party flag atop their rocket models in Lebanon last July. (AP)
Israel fears Iran may ship Hezbollah arms via Beirut port
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: weapons, Iran, Hezbollah

Israel is concerned that Iran might start moving weapons to Hezbollah by means of ships that anchor in the Beirut port, government sources in Jerusalem said.

The sources said oversight of marine vessels by UNIFIL (the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) was not efficient enough to enforce an embargo on weapons shipments into Lebanon and to pinpoint such shipments.

A government source in Jerusalem said Saturday that a year ago Israel transmitted to Germany, which at that time commanded UNIFIL's marine forces, that it suspected Iran would transfer weapons to Hezbollah by sea. The source said Israel voiced its concerns over the marine forces' insufficient control over the coast, and that Germany promised to increase its supervision.
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"The problem is that UNIFIL's checks are not strict enough and are simply not serious," the source said. He said that UNIFIL soldiers do not physically examine the cargo in suspicious vessels, making do with comparing the vessel's name and registration number to the registration of the ships in the Beirut port.

"We are afraid that many ships registered in the port as carrying certain cargo are in fact carrying cargo of a totally different kind," the source said.

A response from UNIFIL could not be obtained over the weekend.

Iran concedes that it provides moral support and money to Hezbollah, but denies supplying it with weapons, which would be in violation of a UN resolution.

The Israel Defense Forces said last month that Iran is sending Hezbollah weapons by means of planes and trucks, passing through Turkish territory without the knowledge of the government in Ankara, and from there to Syria and Lebanon.

In the two years since the Second Lebanon War, Hezbollah has been working to rehabilitate itself and increase its strength. The organization has considerably increased the number of rockets in its possession, and it now has tens of thousands of them.

According to the Israeli government source, Hezbollah has placed two thirds of these rockets south of the Litani River in the area under UNIFIL control, where the organization is not allowed to operate.

Over the past month, Israel has been lobbying in the UN to promote the release of a presidential statement by the Security Council regarding the ongoing smuggling of weapons to Hezbollah despite the arms embargo. However, the lack of consensus among the countries on the Security Council, along with American and French concerns over a worsening of the political crisis in Lebanon, have impeded progress on the statement.

About a month ago, responsibility for UNIFIL's marine forces was transferred from Germany to Italy. The marine force has been operating since October 2006, when European gun boats began patroling Lebanon's territorial waters, allowing Israel to lift the sea blockade it had enforced upon the outbreak of the war.

When the force, which consists of 11 ships and works closely alongside the Lebanese navy, locates a suspicious vessel, it sends it to be checked by the Lebanese authorities, usually at the Beirut port. The force has so far preliminarily checked 13,000 vessels, but has sent only 70 suspicious ones for comprehensive examination by the Lebanese authorities.

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      1.   Ha ha israel being outsmarted at every twist & turn! 03:04  |  lakshmi 13/04/08
      2.   UNIFIL has always been useless - nothing new! 03:48  |  Free Gilad Shalit 13/04/08
      3.   Iran 04:57  |  alan 13/04/08
      4.   well i certainly hope do 05:47  |  alarmist 13/04/08
      5.   The drums of war 05:49  |  Mark Lincoln 13/04/08
      6.   BOMB THE SHIPS 06:30  |  Mark 13/04/08
      7.   UNIFIL Does Not Patrol at Night 06:34  |  Straight Talk 13/04/08
      8.   #3 by Who? 06:37  |  Atoo 13/04/08
      9.   Quite Whinning, Israel!!! 06:39  |  Dr Dave 13/04/08
      10.   Lakshmi - The world is being outsmarted by Islam 06:52  |  William 13/04/08
      11.   Iran - "We only offer moral support, no weapons" 06:54  |  William 13/04/08
      12.   Iran 06:56  |  Jersey 13/04/08
      13.   What the World really Thinks 07:00  |  Indiana 13/04/08
      14.   Consider it another chance to excel 07:21  |  Natallie Durson 13/04/08
      15.   ha ha 07:25  |  a lebanese 13/04/08
      16.   Lakscmuck 07:30  |  Oddvark 13/04/08
      17.   Better off in Las Vegas.... 07:41  |  Webster 13/04/08
      18.   LIVNI,OLMERT INVITED UNIFIL TO PROTECT HIZBOLLA FROM ISRAEL)))) 07:42  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 13/04/08
      19.   not a day goes by 07:58  |  rm 13/04/08
      20.   Hezbollah does not accept international law 08:02  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      21.   MORE APPEASEMENT BY THE WEST 08:09  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      22.   Straight Talk - Make War on NATO? 08:29  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/04/08
      23.   6 Mark of Arad - Which ones are those? 08:37  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/04/08
      24.   UNIFIL 08:39  |  Papo 13/04/08
      25.   Hezbo will bring the end of Lebanon 08:59  |  Dan 13/04/08
      26.   rm Paranoia is defined as suspicion without cause 09:08  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 13/04/08
      27.   #20 Cipora Julianna Kohn 09:24  |  maoriboy 13/04/08
      28.   #22, Mark, straight talk sounds like a provocateur 09:27  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      29.   Israeli paranoia 09:32  |  Palestinian Brit 13/04/08
      30.   NUKES ON IRAN RIGHT NOW 09:51  |  BOB KING THE ZIONIST 13/04/08
      31.   THERE WILL NEVER BE Palestinian Brit 10:01  |  BOB KING THE ZIONIST 13/04/08
      32.   Clearly ridiculous propaganda 10:03  |  Clickfool 13/04/08
      33.   It`s not paranoia - it`s brains 10:06  |  x-ray 13/04/08
      34.   #27, it is nothing like Israel 10:07  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      35.   We should not wait : tomorrow it might be too late. 10:12  |  Jean Van Daem 13/04/08
      36.   newest propaganda: say Israel is paranoid 10:12  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      37.   Why is Israel concerned...?? 10:13  |  Dutch Dirk 13/04/08
      38.   Another Zionist crackpot # 7 10:22  |  Clickfool 13/04/08
      39.   #32, fool, you are not logical 10:29  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      40.   For Natallie Durson # 14 10:30  |  Clickfool 13/04/08
      41.   #38, fool, how do you know the poster is a Zionist? 10:32  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      42.   Only 2 options left in order to guarantee Israels security...... 10:37  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/04/08
      43.   #30 BOB KING THE ZIONIST QUEEN 10:38  |  JoeMomma 13/04/08
      44.   I contend it, Cipora # 36 10:44  |  Clickfool 13/04/08
      45.   Thanks for the useful link, Jean van Daem # 35 10:48  |  Clickfool 13/04/08
      46.   Time To Finish Off Hezbolla 10:49  |  Khaled 13/04/08
      47.   I understand why u r so scared 10:51  |  Imad 13/04/08
      48.   ISRAEL, JUST SHUT UP FOR ONCE! 10:52  |  Mike McKenna 13/04/08
      49.   Ongoing Israeli propaganda and its purpose 10:58  |  Clickfool 13/04/08
      50.   Oh no! 11:07  |  Maureen Ann 13/04/08
      51.   #44, tell me, just how would the shipments reach Syria? 11:26  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      52.   natalie: you`re happy to see lawless people heavily armed? 11:31  |  arthur 13/04/08
      53.   #34 Cipora Julianna Kohn 11:39  |  maoriboy 13/04/08
      54.   #49 - Clickfool, agree with you absolutely 11:45  |  Philip 13/04/08
      55.   Easier to ship missiles with a 6000 km range 11:48  |  Stephen of New York 13/04/08
      56.   to khaled 11:53  |  Imad 13/04/08
      57.   Swiss (Dino) How nice of you! 11:54  |  Gil 13/04/08
      58.   Swiss (Dino) How nice of you! 11:55  |  Gil 13/04/08
      59.   BOB KING THE ZIONIST 11:55  |  Imad 13/04/08
      60.   Yes Clickfool it is Propaganda of course 11:56  |  Gil 13/04/08
      61.   #49 boris the clucking fool and winston churchill 12:05  |  v hardman 13/04/08
      62.   dino: hezballah/hamas refuse saudi initiative, peace:impossible 12:10  |  arthur 13/04/08
      63.   Zionist dummies completely outclassed by superior culture 12:10  |  Chanalau, Tova 13/04/08
      64.   To Mark (#6) 12:14  |  Imad 13/04/08
      65.   A haunting Religious theme 12:15  |  allang 13/04/08
      66.   By the way, presumably you mean Tel Aviv is concerned. 12:16  |  Chanalau, Tova 13/04/08
      67.   clickfool: link is dead blog not found... 12:21  |  arthur 13/04/08
      68.   Clearly fabricated picture of rocket launcher 12:33  |  Michael 13/04/08
      69.   Is there ay DOUBT about it.......? 12:40  |  Dagma 13/04/08
      70.   #20, CIPORA J.K, like israel you mean? 12:49  |  VIPER 13/04/08
      71.   #21, CIPORA J.K, iran only threatens those that threaten it 12:53  |  VIPER 13/04/08
      72.   Lakshmo 1- typical hypocracy 12:58  |  ChanahS 13/04/08
      73.   Mike McKenna: Hizbullah is NOT Lebanon. 13:02  |  arthur 13/04/08
      74.   For Cipora # 39 13:10  |  Clickfool 13/04/08
      75.   My apologies to Arthur # 67 13:18  |  Clickfool 13/04/08
      76.   Chanalau brilliant and generous, must be Iranian 13:21  |  x-ray 13/04/08
      77.   #48 Excellent point 13:21  |  Bruni 13/04/08
      78.   Lebanon Fears US May Ship Arms to Israel via Haifa Port 13:25  |  Johan Odin 13/04/08
      79.   #61 SCUMBAG 13:27  |  Bruni 13/04/08
      80.   Not via Syria?? 13:31  |  MiddleStanian 13/04/08
      81.   maoriboy: hezb allah doesn`t recognise irael`s right to exist 13:31  |  arthur 13/04/08
      82.   Clickfool # 44 And How Do They Get To Syria? 13:34  |  Jeff Northridge 13/04/08
      83.   About the German Navy hoax 13:49  |  Jonathan S 13/04/08
      84.   So Jonathan S - You A 5th Column Traitor I See 14:05  |  Wilhelm Klink 13/04/08
      85.   5Mark Lincoln,10William,17 oddvark; 14:06  |  lakshmi 13/04/08
      86.   Michael # 68 It Looks Top-Heavy To Me Too! 14:09  |  Jeff Northridge 13/04/08
      87.   For Jeff Northridge # 82 14:09  |  Clickfool 13/04/08
      88.   NO EASY WIN NO MORE FOR ISRAEL FOREVER 14:19  |  indrajaya 13/04/08
      89.   Navel manuevers and the crap at the end of Lincoln`s Tunnel 14:51  |  Panther Jet 13/04/08
      90.   TO NO 2 FREE GILAD SHALIT. 15:02  |  DANNY. 13/04/08
      91.   #83 zum besten haben fur dem Kriegsmarine 15:09  |  Panther Jet 13/04/08
      92.   TO NO 20. 15:16  |  DANNY. 13/04/08
      93.   27 MAORIBOY. 15:26  |  DANNY. 13/04/08
      94.   Clickfool # 87 Persian Smuggling 15:29  |  Jeff Northridge 13/04/08
      95.   Dear Cipora # 21 15:42  |  North American 13/04/08
      96.   TO 31. 15:44  |  DANNY. 13/04/08
      97.   JonathanS the German hasser at work 16:02  |  Dav 13/04/08
      98.   42Dino: Just Naive or spewing Pal PR, or both? 16:27  |  Rob 13/04/08
      99.   Viper, Israel only threatens those who threaten her 16:33  |  Dan 13/04/08
      100.   Viper, does Israel deny the right of Iran and Lebanon to exist? 16:35  |  Vivre le Difference 13/04/08
      101.   89 Panther jet,we know all about your idf heroes! 17:01  |  lakshmi 13/04/08
      102.   to hubris panther paper airplane 17:11  |  love it 13/04/08
      103.   to apples and orange difference 17:14  |  get a clue 13/04/08
      104.   #51 Cipora JK ...Cause of concern.Article in New York TimesToday 17:36  |  KATHY 13/04/08
      105.   get a clue, learn some English and then 17:42  |  x-ray 13/04/08
      106.   X-ray on Iranian Nobel prize winners 17:45  |  Iranian-american 13/04/08
      107.   Look at the nations 17:58  |  roger wallace 13/04/08
      108.   I`m concerned by America arming Israel by... 17:59  |  Deborah 13/04/08
      109.   104 Kathy,there won`t be any attack on israel ! 18:13  |  lakshmi 13/04/08
      110.   Iran/American: We don`t HAVE to agree with our govt. in Israel 19:20  |  x-ray 13/04/08
      111.   laksmi 19:23  |  Paul 13/04/08
      112.   #53, Hezbollah lost the war 19:28  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      113.   Irans Story Of Providing Moral Support Is getting Old Very Fast 19:28  |  Shepherd 13/04/08
      114.   #55, fake Stephen from NY 19:31  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      115.   Haaretz my post to# 84 ???? 19:36  |  KATHY 13/04/08
      116.   #95, North American, who is not 19:42  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      117.   #98, Rob, Dino is definitely not naive 19:46  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      118.   #104, Kathy 19:56  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      119.   #116 Cipora about North American 20:00  |  Sarah 13/04/08
      120.   EUROPEAN SONS DYING AND DOING DIRTY WORK FOR ISRAEL 20:02  |  JACKAL 13/04/08
      121.   #Clickfool, Laksmi, ... Perhaps is the situation more complex 20:05  |  Jan Vlaming 13/04/08
      122.   #106 Iranian-American 20:06  |  Sarah 13/04/08
      123.   # 57 Gil 20:11  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/04/08
      124.   #101 lakshmi 20:16  |  Sarah 13/04/08
      125.   # 62 arthur 20:17  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/04/08
      126.   re 14 Natty D another arm chair warrior 20:24  |  Alan the real one 13/04/08
      127.   # 98 Rob 20:27  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/04/08
      128.   re 40 Clickys soft life 20:28  |  Alan the real one 13/04/08
      129.   re 38. clicky you actually responded to that post 20:31  |  Alan the real one 13/04/08
      130.   re 49 hey clicky do you believe in fairy tales. 20:41  |  Alan the real one 13/04/08
      131.   127Dino are you really that naive? 21:03  |  Rob 13/04/08
      132.   #117 Cipora J.K re:Dino ..What a tricky dicky he is.(also Klink) 21:09  |  KATHY 13/04/08
      133.   #114 Cipora Juliana Kohn 21:14  |  Stephen of New York 13/04/08
      134.   Reliablity in question 21:32  |  The Northern Wind 13/04/08
      135.   #131, if you live in England, you canot be in NY 21:35  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      136.   #114 Stephen of New York,.Then Why Not Put England? Plus,,, 21:42  |  KATHY 13/04/08
      137.   Yes he can CJK 21:49  |  ChanahS 13/04/08
      138.   You have the order of events wrong, Alan # 130 21:49  |  Clickfool 13/04/08
      139.   Hezbolla could install nuclear weapons at israel`s border 21:56  |  Aounist 13/04/08
      140.   # 117 Cipora (2nd try) 21:56  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/04/08
      141.   To #18 VOICE of MOSHIACH: You need to invite UN to protect Israel 22:02  |  Aounist 13/04/08
      142.   #132, Kathy, regarding Wilhelm 22:09  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      143.   # 132 Kathy 22:10  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/04/08
      144.   78 John Odin - As Bad as Straight Talk 22:17  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/04/08
      145.   #108 the naivettte of deborah is breath stopping 22:20  |  v hardman 13/04/08
      146.   # 131 Rob 22:20  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/04/08
      147.   Cipora, Jeff N., Clickfool 22:29  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/04/08
      148.   90 Danny - Disbanding UNIFIL 22:36  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/04/08
      149.   #147, Mark of Lewiston 22:44  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      150.   #140, Dino and prohibited practices 22:50  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      151.   #135 Cipora Julianna Kohn 22:51  |  Stephen of New York 13/04/08
      152.   Arming Hezbollah 22:55  |  gadees 13/04/08
      153.   #136 Kathy 22:56  |  Stephen of New York 13/04/08
      154.   Israel Fears of Hezbollah 23:02  |  gadees 13/04/08
      155.   #136 Cipora J.K re:Jonathan who Is Our Eyes And Ears. 23:19  |  KATHY 13/04/08
      156.   Who is Violating What 23:21  |  gadees 13/04/08
      157.   #152, Kathy 23:35  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/04/08
      158.   Dear Cipora # 118 23:37  |  North American 13/04/08
      159.   #148 Mark of Lewiston..Disbanding UNIFIL,OR? 23:41  |  KATHY 13/04/08
      160.   Deborah - What planet do you live on??? Actually know one 23:49  |  aaa 13/04/08
      161.   hazbollah arms 23:50  |  Randy 13/04/08
      162.   Aounist #139 - Then that is the day Israel is going 23:51  |  viking 13/04/08
      163.   149 Cipora - I`m not so Sure 23:58  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/04/08
      164.   For Mark of Lewiston # 147 00:01  |  Clickfool 14/04/08
      165.   #158, Israel has alway fought alone 00:02  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 14/04/08
      166.   159 Kathy - The 1701 Conundrum 00:25  |  Mark of Lewiston 14/04/08
      167.   # 153 Stephen of New York.You can Fool The People Some.of the . 00:45  |  KATHY 14/04/08
      168.   #158 North American...Good Show,then You Can.. 00:52  |  KATHY 14/04/08
      169.   Two witnesses of the book of revelation 01:14  |  roger wallace 14/04/08
      170.   #151 Stephen In Lincolnshire-England 01:37  |  . 14/04/08
      171.   chanalau tova #63 "completly outclassed" in your eyes is nothing 02:44  |  terrornator 14/04/08
      172.   Dear Kathy # 168 03:48  |  Norh American 14/04/08
      173.   Hezbollah 06:06  |  Johnjf 14/04/08
      174.   146 Dino. Just naive again? 06:42  |  Rob 14/04/08
      175.   ARABS-Iran ignore UN Security council at will, then shout"Israel" 07:05  |  PETER SM 14/04/08
      176.   JAKAL HAMAS WANTS TO CONQUER EUROPE FOR ISLAM AS WELL 07:39  |  PETER SM 14/04/08
      177.   #163, Mark of Lewiston 09:01  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 14/04/08
      178.   #135, Cipora Kohn... 04:16  |  Silvienne 15/04/08
      179.   #153, Stephen of New York...to Kathy 04:18  |  Silvienne 15/04/08
      180.   #130, ALAN, what? more lies ? 10:10  |  VIPER 15/04/08
      181.   #180, Viper ... 16:53  |  Silvienne 15/04/08
      182.   What I see happening is this 16:38  |  Sabra 16/04/08
      183.   naive or stupid natalie 16:40  |  Sabra 16/04/08
      184.   Mike Mckenna is filth 19:24  |  andrew lawrence 09/05/08
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