Addressing a 60th anniversary event since the establishment of Kiryat Shmona, President Shimon Peres stated Hizbullah poses a threat to the future of Kiryat Shmona. The president stated Israel seeks to live alongside Lebanon in peace, adding “we are not interested in a grain of sand of Lebanese land or a drop of Lebanon’s water”.

Despite repeated statements of calm from Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gabi Ashkenazi, Lebanon continues to signal it is preparing for an Israeli military assault. Earlier in the week, Lebanese President Mishael Suleiman called on opposition parties to join a broad coalition, to unite force ahead of an Israeli assault against Lebanon.

Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stated Israel views the Lebanese government responsible for any and all Hizbullah cross-border attacks.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)