Robert Bandanza
September 12th, 2009, 01:22 PM
Hanan Awarekeh
12/09/2009 Israel said on Saturday it had lodged a complaint with the United Nations after two rockets fired from southern Lebanon struck the north of the country without causing any casualties. "The sovereign government of Lebanon fails to meet its commitments under UN Resolution 1701 because it does not prevent the firing of rockets against our territory," Israeli deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon told public radio.
He also accused Lebanon of "turning a blind eye" to arms transfers to Hezbollah. "The Lebanese government is in formation, but there is a transitional government that must assume its responsibilities, and our ambassador to the UN, Gabriela Shalev, has complained to the Security Council," Ayalon said.
"For now, our punctual response in the field is sufficient. But this isolated incident demonstrates the terrorists' potential, and Israel will respond massively if the calm is seriously broken."
UNIFIL were monitoring the Lebanese border with Israel on Saturday, a day after rockets launched from south Lebanon slammed into Israel's Galilee region, but the situation was "calm," a spokeswoman said. The rockets triggered retaliatory artillery fire across the border. No injuries or casualties were reported.
UNIFIL spokesperson Yasmina Bouziane told AFP on Saturday that the UN peacekeeping forces are monitoring Lebanon’s border with Israel, and the situation is calm."UNIFIL in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) deployed additional troops in the general area to prevent any escalation of the situation, but the situation is pretty calm today," Bouziane said.
The UNIFIL troops continued to urge both sides to exercise maximum restraint and had launched an investigation into the incident, Bouziane said, but would not comment on who could be behind the rocket attacks. "We will wait for the report," she said.
Israeli Army Radio quoted military sources as saying that a small jihad group with links abroad was likely behind the firing of the rockets.
The member of the Development and Liberation parliamentary bloc MP Yassine Jaber said “at a time we don’t accept that the Southern territories turn into a source for the foundling and suspicious rockets because the security of the south is the security of the homeland and it is the responsibility of the legitimate Lebanese security forces backed by UNIFIL, we consider that the Israeli aggression yesterday against al-Qlaileh a violation of resolution 1701 and it is a translation for the recent Israeli threats against Lebanon, its resistance, its army and its people. "
Jaber added, “These ongoing Israeli aggressions, threats and violations against Lebanon by land, sea and air put before the international community and the UN. They also come to confirm that a strong Lebanese army, backed by the resistance, is a Lebanese national need to confront any Israeli aggression.”
The National News Agency reported on Friday that President Michel Sleiman made the necessary contacts to follow up on the rocket exchange crisis and measures to be taken to capture the perpetrators. Sleiman also reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Moreover, Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh issued a statement Friday condemning the day’s rocket exchange over the Blue line, particularly the “inappropriate Israeli attacks.” Salloukh reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and called for handling the situation in cooperation with UNIFIL.
Change and Reform bloc leader MP General Michel Aoun told OTV on Friday that he is “convinced” the rocket launch from the village of Al-Qlaileh onto the occupied territories is not Hezbollah’s “style of confronting Israel,” stressing that the Zionist entity rather than Hezbollah seeks conflict.
RUSSIA VOICES CONCERN OVER THE ROCKET FIRE
Russia voiced "particular concern" on Saturday over the rocket fire and warned against any actions that could raise tensions in the Middle East. "The latest aggravation on the ceasefire line between Israel and Lebanon is a source of particular concern in connection with continuing efforts to form a government in Lebanon," the foreign ministry said in a statement issued in Moscow.
It added that in the current situation any complications "could have serious consequences" both in Lebanon and the wider region and called on all parties to avoid raising tensions.
Washington too has condemned the rocket attacks, saying they were in violation of Resolution 1701. Assistant Secretary of State PJ Crowley said in Washington the incident "highlights the urgent need to put arms in Lebanon under control of the state and the need for the international community to remain fully committed on supporting UNIFIL which is the UN mission in Lebanon."
Meanwhile, many Lebanese complained that they received calls from Israel on midnight Friday holding the Lebanese government and people responsible for any attack on the Zionist entity. The message threatened to destroy Lebanon in case of such an attack.
http://www.almanar.com.lb/newssite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=103064&language=en
12/09/2009 Israel said on Saturday it had lodged a complaint with the United Nations after two rockets fired from southern Lebanon struck the north of the country without causing any casualties. "The sovereign government of Lebanon fails to meet its commitments under UN Resolution 1701 because it does not prevent the firing of rockets against our territory," Israeli deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon told public radio.
He also accused Lebanon of "turning a blind eye" to arms transfers to Hezbollah. "The Lebanese government is in formation, but there is a transitional government that must assume its responsibilities, and our ambassador to the UN, Gabriela Shalev, has complained to the Security Council," Ayalon said.
"For now, our punctual response in the field is sufficient. But this isolated incident demonstrates the terrorists' potential, and Israel will respond massively if the calm is seriously broken."
UNIFIL were monitoring the Lebanese border with Israel on Saturday, a day after rockets launched from south Lebanon slammed into Israel's Galilee region, but the situation was "calm," a spokeswoman said. The rockets triggered retaliatory artillery fire across the border. No injuries or casualties were reported.
UNIFIL spokesperson Yasmina Bouziane told AFP on Saturday that the UN peacekeeping forces are monitoring Lebanon’s border with Israel, and the situation is calm."UNIFIL in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) deployed additional troops in the general area to prevent any escalation of the situation, but the situation is pretty calm today," Bouziane said.
The UNIFIL troops continued to urge both sides to exercise maximum restraint and had launched an investigation into the incident, Bouziane said, but would not comment on who could be behind the rocket attacks. "We will wait for the report," she said.
Israeli Army Radio quoted military sources as saying that a small jihad group with links abroad was likely behind the firing of the rockets.
The member of the Development and Liberation parliamentary bloc MP Yassine Jaber said “at a time we don’t accept that the Southern territories turn into a source for the foundling and suspicious rockets because the security of the south is the security of the homeland and it is the responsibility of the legitimate Lebanese security forces backed by UNIFIL, we consider that the Israeli aggression yesterday against al-Qlaileh a violation of resolution 1701 and it is a translation for the recent Israeli threats against Lebanon, its resistance, its army and its people. "
Jaber added, “These ongoing Israeli aggressions, threats and violations against Lebanon by land, sea and air put before the international community and the UN. They also come to confirm that a strong Lebanese army, backed by the resistance, is a Lebanese national need to confront any Israeli aggression.”
The National News Agency reported on Friday that President Michel Sleiman made the necessary contacts to follow up on the rocket exchange crisis and measures to be taken to capture the perpetrators. Sleiman also reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Moreover, Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh issued a statement Friday condemning the day’s rocket exchange over the Blue line, particularly the “inappropriate Israeli attacks.” Salloukh reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and called for handling the situation in cooperation with UNIFIL.
Change and Reform bloc leader MP General Michel Aoun told OTV on Friday that he is “convinced” the rocket launch from the village of Al-Qlaileh onto the occupied territories is not Hezbollah’s “style of confronting Israel,” stressing that the Zionist entity rather than Hezbollah seeks conflict.
RUSSIA VOICES CONCERN OVER THE ROCKET FIRE
Russia voiced "particular concern" on Saturday over the rocket fire and warned against any actions that could raise tensions in the Middle East. "The latest aggravation on the ceasefire line between Israel and Lebanon is a source of particular concern in connection with continuing efforts to form a government in Lebanon," the foreign ministry said in a statement issued in Moscow.
It added that in the current situation any complications "could have serious consequences" both in Lebanon and the wider region and called on all parties to avoid raising tensions.
Washington too has condemned the rocket attacks, saying they were in violation of Resolution 1701. Assistant Secretary of State PJ Crowley said in Washington the incident "highlights the urgent need to put arms in Lebanon under control of the state and the need for the international community to remain fully committed on supporting UNIFIL which is the UN mission in Lebanon."
Meanwhile, many Lebanese complained that they received calls from Israel on midnight Friday holding the Lebanese government and people responsible for any attack on the Zionist entity. The message threatened to destroy Lebanon in case of such an attack.
http://www.almanar.com.lb/newssite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=103064&language=en