PM warns: Lebanon to be held responsible for attacks from within
Speaking before Gush Katif evacuees in south, Netanyahu addresses threats from north, saying 'If Hezbollah entered gov't as official body, let it be clear Lebanese gov't to be held responsible for any attack on Israel from its territory'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent an assertive message to Beirut on Monday, saying, "Let it be clear that the Lebanese government will be held accountable for any attack on Israel coming from its territory."
The prime minister spoke before Gush Katif evacuees in Hevel Lachish in southern Israel.
Netanyahu addressed the shifting politics in Lebanon, and said, "If Hezbollah entered the government as an official body, let it be clear that the Lebanese government will be held accountable for any attack on Israel coming from its territory.
"The moment they are part of the government, the sovereign Lebanese government is responsible. I hope we will not need such responses."
The last few days have seen reports of Hezbollah efforts to target Israeli delegates overseas, including a thwarted attempt on the life of the Israeli ambassador to Cairo.
Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon told Yedioth Ahronoth that should any attempt be made on an Israeli official the Lebanese government would be held accountable.
"Hezbollah is not on the moon, its part of the Lebanese government…. if so much as one hair on the head of any Israeli overseas – official or tourist – is harmed, we will hold Hezbollah responsible and the response would be harsh."
Northern Comman deputy chief Brigadier-General Alon Friedman said in an interview to the British Times last week that the queit on the northern border "could erupt any minute".
He added that the stability between Lebanon and Israel was "in danger". According to the report, Hezbollah has accumulated over 40,000 rockets and has been training its troops to launch rockets capable of reaching Tel Aviv as well as airplanes.
Netanyahu also addressed the matter of the Gaza evacuees and their location in eastern Lachish. "We are committed to completing our work, and part of it is ensuring that the territories across the border are not used as launch bases against us. Every attack will yield a response," he said.
The prime minister refused to comment on developments in talks in the matter of captive soldier Gilad Shalit, and made do with a general statement, saying, "We are dealing with this matter all the time".
