Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stated on Tuesday that Israel will not permit Hizbullah to take control over Lebanon, warning major Israeli cities may be targeted in future wars by the Lebanese-based terrorist organization.

In a somewhat related matter, Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad is scheduled to arrive in Russia this week, and news analysts believe he will be negotiating another weapons deal. The visit is being labeled as a “working visit” by the media. Russia, they explain, is especially willing to assist its good ally after Israel recently came to the aid of Georgia following the Russian military invasion.

Speaking during a visit of a Ramle Homefront Command military base, the prime minister stated that Israel did not exhaust its abilities during the Second Lebanon War, but the “massive” weapons were not used because the war was against a terrorist organization, not a country.

“If Lebanon will become a Hizbullah country, then there will be no limitations in this regard,” he added.

The prime minister was making reference to the newly-formed Lebanese government, which recognizes Hizbullah using all means to “liberate lands occupied by Israel”.

Olmert confirmed intelligence assessments, that future wars will be different, explaining that even in 2006, the war was contained and the battlefront was a distance from the homefront. “Life continued normally in major cities” he added. Next time he explained, the enemy will be determined to strike the homefront, “Hizbullah is arming itself with weapons to strike the population.”

Seeking to allay fears, the prime minister added that we needn’t concern ourselves too much, explaining “the threat is greater in our imagination than it is in reality.”

Syria continues supplying Hizbullah with weapons, and Assad on Thursday will begin his two-day visit during which time he will meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. It is Assad’s third visit to Russia in recent years, the first since Medvedev was elected.

Israeli analysts believe that the Syrian leader will walk away with a handsome weapons deal that will only assist Hizbullah to prepare for the next war against Israel.

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(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)