No intention to end
operation: Israeli DM
JERUSALEM, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense
Minister Amir Peretz said on Wednesday that there is no intention to end the
military operation in Lebanon without removing Hizbollah's threat.
Rescuers carry out the body of a victim
from the ruins of a building bombed by Israeli troops in a southern
Lebanonese city, July 19, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters
Photo) |
A building has been bombed by Israeli troops in
a southern Lebanonese city, July 19, 2006. (Xinhua
Photo) |
A man runs through ruins to escape the bombing of
Israeli troops in Beirut, the captical of Lebanon, July 19,
2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) |
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Peretz made the remarks during a meeting with
European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who arrived in Israel
after meeting with top Lebanese officials in Beirut to work for a diplomatic
solution to the ongoing Israeli-Lebanese crisis.
Peretz told the EU envoy that "we wish to make it
clear that we have no intention of ending this crisis and go back to living
under the same reality."
"We are determined not to let Hizbollah gain control
over southern Lebanon again and will certainly not allow their return to the
Israeli border," said the defense minister.
While supporting Israel's demands of the release of
the captured soldiers and the application of UN Resolution 1559, Solana branded
Israel's response in Lebanon "disproportionate".
"This must be stopped, a solution must be found. That
is why I am here. In order to talk with the leaders of the two sides and to find
a way to stop the violence," said Solana.
Earlier in the day, during a news conference in
Jerusalem with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Solana condemned the
capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hizbollah and implicitly called on Syria and
Iran to help end the ongoing conflict.
Solana also met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert earlier on Wednesday and was due to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas in the evening. Enditem
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