LEBANON: BEIRUT: HEZBOLLAH ISSUES WARNING TO ISRAEL

Описание: (8 Apr 2000) Arabic/Nat

The leader of the Lebanon based militia Hezbollah has warned Israel on Friday that any attack on Lebanon after the withdrawal of troops will be met in kind.

Sheik Hassan Nasrallah's threat followed repeated warnings from Israeli leaders that any strike against Israel after the pullout from Southern Lebanon will be replied with force.

The war of words between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah has intensified ahead of expected Israeli troop withdrawals from South Lebanon.

Faced with mounting casualties from guerrilla attacks and increasing unpopularity of the war at home, Prime Minister Ehud Barak decided to relinquish the territory - 10 percent of Lebanon - by July.

But doubts remain as to where exactly the border between the two warring nations will be drawn, potentially leading to greater instability in the region.

Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shiite Muslim militant group, has retaliated in the past against Israeli attacks on civilians in Lebanon by firing Katyusha rockets on northern Israeli communities.

However, the guerrillas have not launched rockets across the border since last June, instead concentrating on Israeli forces and allied militiamen in the occupied zone.

Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said that the fighting was far from over.

He said the Israeli withdrawal would not necessarily mean that the conflict between the two sides would end.

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)
"We say that specifying the exact International borders between Lebanon and the occupied Palestine, the 1948 borders, is the responsibility of the Lebanese government. We say as a Resistance that if one inch or even one metre from this international borders, that the Lebanese government will specify, remains under the occupation we will carry on our tenacious operations until complete withdrawal."
SUPER CAPTION: Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah secretary general

In his speech, Nasrallah called on his people to stand up to the challenges that lay ahead; what that challenge is remains unclear.

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)
"Back in 1982 when Israel used to shell Lebanon, Lebanon used to dress in black and weep. After 1982, Israel shells Lebanon, Lebanon shells Israel".
SUPER CAPTION: Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah secretary general

The Hezbollah Leader, just like in previous statements, would not give assurances that Hezbollah would not carry on fighting Israel.

On Friday, the Israeli army's chief of staff said Israel will withdraw completely from Lebanon.

Previously they'd said Israel would keep bases inside Lebanon to prevent attacks on Israeli border communities.

Lebanon and Syria, the main power broker in Lebanon, have warned that they will not protect the border in the event of a unilateral Israeli withdrawal without a comprehensive peace agreement.

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