Israel lifting lebanon blockade...

[6SpeedTA95]

Israel Says It Will Lift Lebanon Blockade

JERUSALEM — Israel will lift its sea and air blockade of Lebanon on Thursday night, the Israeli government announced Wednesday.

A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said international forces would replace the Israelis at command positions over Lebanese seaports and airports.

Israel has maintained the blockade since the beginning of its offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon, which ended with a cease-fire late last month. The Israeli government and military said the blockade was necessary to prevent new arms shipments to Hezbollah guerrillas.

The announcement came shortly after Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh threatened to use force to break the blockade if it isn't lifted in a 48-hour timeframe indicated by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

"We will wait for the 48 hours given by Kofi Annan, and if the situation is resolved, we will thank him," Salloukh said Wednesday at an Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo. "If it is not, the Lebanese government will take the necessary measures and we will break the blockade with all our might."

Meanwhile, a British Mediterranean Airways flight left London Wednesday afternoon bound for Beirut, the first Western carrier to do so since the country's only international airport was attacked by Israeli warplanes in July. It was scheduled to arrive Wednesday night.

CountryWatch: Israel

Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev earlier tied the lifting of the blockade to the Lebanon's ability to prevent Hezbollah from rearming.

"Israel will be ready to lift the restrictions when the Lebanese government augmented by international forces will be ready to enforce the arms embargo on Hezbollah," Regev said. "If they are ready, we will be ready."

Annan, meanwhile, called on Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon to disarm and to devote themselves to political activities, and said Lebanon must take the initiative in disarming Hezbollah.

"There has to be a national consensus among the Lebanese to disarm" Hezbollah, Annan said. "The remaining ones should disarm and devote themselves to political activities."

Annan also said use of force "is not the only means" in dealing with Hezbollah.

"I don't think we need to insist in Lebanon that's the only way to do it," he said. "If we do move in that direction, then we are going to compound the problem."

CountryWatch: Lebanon

He also said Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon is crucial to the deployment of the 15,000 peacekeepers the U.N. wants to send to monitor the cease-fire alongside Lebanese troops.

"We will have a credible force," Annan said. But "the withdrawal of Israeli forces is equally crucial."

Annan also said that a mediator he appointed for indirect talks between Israel and Hezbollah on the release of two abducted Israeli soldiers will be "in the region before the end of the week."

Reuters reported Wednesday that Salloukh, Lebanon's foreign minister, insisted the two soldiers captured by Hezbollah guerrillas will not be released unless there are talks with Israel about the exchange of Lebanese prisoners.

Annan has not said whether a prisoner swap was on the agenda for the mediation effort. Israel repeated its stance on Monday demanding an unconditional release of the soldiers.

FOXNews.com - Israel Says It Will Lift Lebanon Blockade - The Mideast



I think this is pretty good news and shows that Israel isn't as wreckless and one sided as many claim.

On a side note do you guys like the article in quotes or out of quotes better?

[Publius]

Quotes make them easier to differentiate, imo.

[Thorgrim]

I think they just caved in to the lebanese government...

[Donkey®]

Flip floppers. BTW, why did they still have a blockade against Lebanon?

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by Donkey®

Flip floppers. BTW, why did they still have a blockade against Lebanon?

because they have to act tough whenever possible, they've been forced to have the mentality of thugs for so long that its finally setting in and they are becoming thugs themselves

[thomez]

Originally Posted by Donkey®

Flip floppers. BTW, why did they still have a blockade against Lebanon?

"to block arms shipments"

[ballz2wallz]

i think they're gonna regret that move.