Peretz: Hizbullah seeking legitimacy in Lebanon

During weekly security briefing, defense minister says Sunday's attacks on northern border aimed at 'maintaining Hizbullah's deterrence balance against Israel'

Ronny Sofer
Published: 05.30.06, 15:41 / Israel News

The heavy exchanges of fire between Hizbullah and the IDF at the beginning of the week were at the center of the cabinet meeting's security review Tuesday.

"Hizbullah's attack reflected their desire to maintain a deterrence balance against Israel and strengthen their legitimacy in the Lebanese arena as a resistance organization," said Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

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On Sunday afternoon, the IDF halted fire at the northern border following a request by the Lebanese government.

"Hizbullah members sought to prevent escalation following the heavy blows incurred on them by the IDF, and requested a ceasefire," Perez said during the cabinet meeting. "The way events ended illustrates the intense damage and Hizbullah's intention to prevent an escalation of events in the circumstances created."

Peretz said that he instructed the IDF to stay on high alert on the northern border, also after the successful operation against Hizbullah. He stressed that Israel has no intention bring about an escalation of events in the north, but is ready and prepared for the possibility that it will be forced to respond to additional attacks.

10 concrete terror warnings

Peretz also referred to operations in the Gaza Strip, saying that they will continue in all areas for the sake of preventing continual firing of Qassam rockets or preventing terrorists from carrying out terror attacks inside the Green Line.

In addition, the minister praised the IDF's operation Monday night, some hundreds of meters north of the borderline in the depth of the Palestinian territory.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also praised the special unit's operation which killed five terrorists were killed, who according to the army Israeli planned to launch Qassam rockets at Israel.

The Defense minister noted that the defense establishment currently holds 10 concrete warnings terror attacks inside Israel. He added that the Shin Bet hold 80 general warnings. He praised the foiled terrorist attack in Nablus Monday and elaborated on the wide-scale detention operations in the northern West Bank.

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