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Israel Threatens to Resume War if Hizballah Refuses to Disarm

[Jerusalem Post] Gil Hoffman - The IDF will have to resume operations in Lebanon if the expanded UN force does not fulfill its obligation to dismantle Hizballah, an official in the Prime Minister's Office warned on Tuesday. Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah reportedly reached a deal allowing Hizballah to keep its weapons but refrain from exhibiting them in public. Israeli officials called the arrangement a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. "If the resolution is not implemented, we will have to take action to prevent the rearming of Hizballah....There has to be pressure on Hizballah to disarm or there will have to be another round," the official said. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Tuesday that "dismantling Hizballah is not the direct mandate of the UN," which could only help Lebanon disarm the organization. According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev, the two main tasks of the expanded UN force would be enforcing a "Hizballah-free zone" in south Lebanon and an international arms embargo on Hizballah. He said the resolution detailed the placement of international forces at all crossing points into Lebanon, comprising those from Syria as well as airports and seaports.
2006-08-16 01:00:00
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