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Israeli Attacks Target Lebanon, Gaza

By Jim Teeple
Jerusalem
13 July 2006

Israel carried out air, sea and ground attacks against targets in Lebanon Thursday, effectively blockading the country. Israel also attacked Palestinian government institutions in the Gaza Strip, in what is being described as an open ended military campaign on two fronts.

Israeli military forces wasted no time in carrying out the orders of Israel's cabinet, which approved military action against Hezbollah and Lebanon. This is in retaliation for a series of attacks by Hezbollah guerrillas, Wednesday, that left eight Israeli soldiers dead and two others captured. Yigal Palmor - head of the Maghreb, Syria and Lebanon Desk at the Israeli Foreign Ministry - says Israel's objective is clear.

"People must be held accountable for what is going on along the Israel-Lebanese border," he said. "The Lebanese government cannot pretend that it has absolutely nothing to do with that. So, if the international community wants there to be peace on both sides of the Lebanese border, which is what we would like to see, it has to intervene for the Lebanese government to take responsibility."

Hezbollah guerrillas responded Thursday by firing rockets into northern Israel. At least one Israeli civilian was killed. Thousands of Israelis living in the northern part of the country have been ordered to shelters.

Speaking on Israel Radio, Defense Minister Amir Peretz says Israel will not allow Hezbollah guerrillas to reoccupy their positions in southern Lebanon.

Peretz says Lebanese army forces should be deployed along the border - something Lebanon's government has refused to order - saying it is not responsible for providing security along Israel's border.

Meanwhile, Israel is continuing to carry out military strikes in the Gaza Strip - destroying the offices of Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas militant, early Thursday. Yigal Palmor of Israel's Foreign Ministry says military operations in Gaza and Lebanon have similarities.

"They are linked in the sense that Israel evacuated both territories and has no claim over them," he said. "That has not contributed not one ounce of calm and peace to the objectives and deeds of the organizations that are operating from these territories."

More than 20 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip since Wednesday. Palestinian officials have condemned the attacks, but Israel says military operations will continue in Gaza until Palestinian militants release an Israeli soldier they are holding, and stop launching homemade Qassam rockets into Israel.