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World Jewish News
IDF chief: New Israel-Hezbollah war unlikely
28.07.2009
The Israel Defense Forces is closely monitoring the situation along the border with Lebanon though no eruption of hostilities is expected on this front, army chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi said on Tuesday.
Ashkenazi addressed the matter during a visit to the IDF's main induction center at Tel Hashomer. Israeli officials have recently expressed apprehension over events in southern Lebanon which suggest that Hezbollah, the Shi'ite militia with whom it fought a war in the summer of 2006, is seeking to provoke another round of conflict.
"At the moment, there is quiet all along the border," Ashkenazi told recruits of the Kfir infantry brigade on Tuesday. "There was an incident which to our understanding was an explosion of a weapons cache belonging to Hezbollah, which is being handled by UNIFIL and the Lebanese government."
"We view the event with gravity, but we do not anticipate a disruption of quiet in the area," the IDF chief said.
Israeli officials said Monday that they believe Hezbollah will try to escalate the tension on the Lebanon border by organizing civilian demonstrations and protests in the Har Dov area, as it did about a week ago, as part of an effort to launch a popular uprising against Israel.
Israel has warned Beirut through the United Nations that it would be held responsible for any hostile action launched from Lebanese territory.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak met on Monday with U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and told him Israel was concerned by the developments on the Lebanon border and various Hezbollah statements and moves.
By Anshel Pfeffer and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents, and Reuters
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