Netanyahu: Lebanon accountable for rocket on Israel
Lebanese daily reports that UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon were warned of a possible attack.
By News Agencies and Avi Issacharoff Haaretz Service Tags: Lebanon Israel news PalestiniansIsrael holds the Lebanese government accountable for Friday's rocket attacks on northern Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday.
Two rockets launched from Lebanon hit open areas in the Western Galilee on Friday. An Israel Defense Forces artillery unit shot back at the launch area, firing some 12 artillery shells. No casualties or damage were reported on either side.
"It is clear that this firing was from south of the Litani River, in complete contravention of UN Resolution 1701," Netanyahu said. "In the end, it is the Lebanese government that is responsible for upholding the cease-fire and we view it as responsible for any violations and aggression directed at us from Lebanese territory."
Netanyahu added that Israel views the rocket fire "with utmost gravity."
"I have said that we will not hold back in the face of firing at Israeli territory," the premier said, "and we will not countenance any missiles or other kind of terrorism directed at Israeli citizens."
Lebanon could seek Iranian assistance
Lebanon may turn to Iran for weapons in the event of another Israeli strike, prominent Druze leader Walid Jumblatt said on Saturday.
Jumblatt, speaking to Fars TV, said that Lebanon was in need for anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, which he claimed could be obtained from Russia as well as Iran.
The Druze leader also called to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iran to improve ties in order to close ranks ahead of a future Israeli assault.
Report: UNIFIL warned of Katyusha attack
Earlier Sunday, Channel 10, quoting the Lebanese daily An-Nahar, reported that the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon in southern Lebanon was warned of a possible attack 10 days before the two Katyusha rockets hit Israel.
The report added that UNIFIL informed the Lebanese army two days before the attack.
UNIFIL spokesman Milos Strugar on Saturday blamed radicals from Palestinian refugee camps in southern Lebanon for firing the two rockets into Israel on Friday. The IDF retaliated with artillery fired toward the presumed area of the launches, near the village of Qlaileh. Strugar said this appeared to be the work of an extremist group trying to disrupt stability in southern Lebanon, and possibly harm the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon.
Strugar would not comment further on the issue, but Lebanese sources said it is widely believed the rockets were fired by a radical Islamist group connected to similar groups abroad. They noted that the rockets were fired on September 11, the dates of the terrorist attacks on New York's World Trade Center in 2001.
A Lebanese Web site reported that four men in civilian clothes arrived in the area in a van, installed three rockets with stopwatches and left.
Lebanese commentators said over the weekend that the rocket fire was connected to the country's political crisis - which recently deepened when Saad Hariri, the winner of Lebanon's most recent elections, announced last week that he was not able to form a government. However, other parties recommended to President Michel Suleiman that he return the mandate to Hariri once again.
The sources said Hariri's statement was meant to pressure Hezbollah and its Christian ally, Michel Aoun, to confirm the list of ministers Hariri had presented to the president. Hariri, leader of the anti-Syrian "March 14" alliance, had accepted the core demands of the pro-Syrian opposition led by Hezbollah - which demanded that the government would include 10 opposition ministers with veto power. Five additional ministers will be appointed by the president. However, a major point of contention remains as Hariri demands to choose the opposition ministers himself, without consulting opposition leaders.
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United Nations peacekeepesr monitoring the Israel-Lebanon border. |
| Photo by: (Reuters) |
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I don't know what world you live in...haven't you noticed everytime we try to buy weapons to strengthen the lebanese army, Israel's lobbyists in Washintgon start barking loud..and yes, we are still occupied bu Syria. Who do you think is behind the Government fromation stallmate?...one of these days the israelis will find out that their best friend in Lebanon is in fact the Lebanese Army.
The "quick to blame" Lebanon's government is nothing but a license to attack a weak country and wreck it's infrastructure, again. Any smart person knows that Lebanon is hosting 500000 palestinian refugees, armed, a gift from Israel. You took their land and we ended up hosting them. Since you won't let us strengthen our army, they get loose and fire at you. Why doesn't the mighty IDF take on a real army like Syria or Iran? Cowards.
BBS News said: "Without Israel`s constant aggression, there would be no need nor desire for resistance groups." Um, if Mexico fired rockets into Canada, because Canadians were building houses in Mexico, Canada would attack Mexico full force, and Mexico would deserve it. Likewise Israel has the right to defend itself and the terrorists attacking civilians deserve what Israel dishes out.
Tell me, when do they control and prevent rockets fired on Israel? In fact they harbour terrorist organizations that do those things. How is this consistent with preventing rocket fire? There is no desir rally to prvent firing on Israel. If they will ever do something about it, it is because of the fear that will become construction sand in the next war.
Israel has learned how to deal with Iranian proxies effectively. From the disastrous UN imposition of 2006, that was never respected by Lebanon, Syria and Iran, to the Gaza Op, tragic as it was, Israel has finally learned how deal with it. And it will.
...of course you already knew that. Without Israel's constant aggression, there would be no need nor desire for resistance groups. It ain't rocket science...
I am sick a tired of Lebanese government's excuses "it's not us, it's our terrorists". For god sake, you are no longer occupied by Syria, so it's time to grow up and build a country. One army, one government, one authority. Missiles that fly from your territory into a neighboring country is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
The indigenous people of the area just happen to be the Israelites,. aka Jews. This no way resembles what happened in North America, where the indigenous population was stripped of their lands and placed in reservations.
Being the Lebanese government is in turmoil, I doubt if they are able to control what's happening on their southern border at the moment. Why not say who it really was? Extremist Muslims, including Hezbollah, which is a criminal group, who are trying to take over a democratically elected government. Here's an idea. Israel and Lebanon make peace, then squeeze Hezbollah from both directions.
...israel is irresponsible.
Where do you live, on Mars? Lebanese PM and Lebanese army web site have both stated officially that the #1 mandate of the army is to protect against the Israeli enemy We both know that the Lebanese army will never fight and impose UN resolutions to disarm Hezbo. So hop on the next Mars space shuttle and land on earth .
Hey, I really do not understand, if we attack s our fault, if we got attacked is also our fault, I really do not understand what do you expect. So your argument is that for example tommorrow 100 rockets fell one day in northern israel, is still going to be israel fault?,
Colin. i agree we all saw what the lebanese army is capable of after the nahr el barad terrorist wipe out. israel is happy with the status quo of hisbullah because they don't want peace
Turn over the criminal Hezbollah terrorist to them for prosecution. Otherwize WHAT are the United Nations soldiers there fore?
To Colin Wright. Somehow I knew that Lebanon's rocket attack on Israel would turn out to be Israel's fault. Some things never change
the country is in a political crisis since June and there is no government. how can you blame something that doesn't exist??
For the occupation and all of the Settlers activities , violence , incareceration w/0 due process , land confiscation and rstriction of movement of the indigenous population ......
"Lebanon's government responsible for every violation or act of aggression against Israel originating from its territory." It is Israel herself that insists the Lebanese army remain too weak to challenge Hezbollah.
Make no mistake - Hezbollah takes orders directly from Iran, more specifically that lunatic Khameini. The sooner Israel attacks Iran's nuclear weapons sites the better preferably this fall after Iran balks at negotiations again. Obama doesn't have the strength for an attack, but he'll have no choice but to defend Israel if Iran retaliates. Today it's katyushas, in the future it could be chemical, biological weapons on missiles or nukes.