EU rep to Israel: Act with restraint in Lebanon

In joint press conference with EU official Livni says ‘there is an understanding that we are facing a regional threat.’ Solana recommends restraint during operation in north

Ronny Sofer|Published: 07.19.06 , 15:03

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni held a joint press conference with Javier Solana, the European Union’s High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), just two hours after announcing that the time has come for negotiations to end the war in the north.

"Israel and the international community have the common goal to initiate a move that will bring a long-term change in the region and prevent the terror that Israelis and Lebanese are facing," said Livni.

'A better future.' Livni and Solana (Photo: Dudu Vaaknin)

"Our interest is to bring a better future for the region," she said. "We demand the immediate and unconditional release of the three abducted soldiers: Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser, and Eldad Regev. Israel is not going negotiate with the Hizbullah and there is no anticipation in the international community that we do it. It's clear that there is a strategic goal here – the understanding that we are facing a regional threat, and that Israel and Lebanon has no real disagreement."

Solana, for his part, urged Israeli restraint in its retaliation, adding that the country should make an effort to hurt fewer civilians, and thus win the hearts and minds of south Lebanon residents. He added that the EU will continue to cooperate with all its allies in the region in order to stop the bloodshed.

Livni, who also met on Tuesday with the United Nations delegation said: "We need to remember that the international community, not only Israel, is fighting these situations (abductions and terror) in different places around the world, so the interest of Israel and the international community is to make it clear to terror organizations that this is not the way to win political gains or strengthen themselves."

The foreign minister emphasized the need for implementing UN resolution 1559.

"Hizbullah must be out of the south of Lebanon and 1559 should be implemented. That means the Lebanese army should be deployed in south Lebanon the Hizbullah should be dismantled. Syria and Iran should also be prevented from arming Hizbullah in the future," she said.