Ashkenazi: Israel Won’t Interfere in Lebanon
Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi has reportedly said that the Jewish state will not interfere in Lebanon’s developments although the situation is worrying.
Ashkenazi made the comment as he addressed a group of NATO military chiefs in Brussels on Wednesday.
He warned of the proliferation of non-conventional weapons and ballistic missiles throughout the Middle East.
“Cooperation with NATO will continue to be of extreme importance for Israel, particularly in the face of countries that are trying to obtain nuclear and non-conventional weapons,” Ashkenazi said.
“Extremist regimes and terrorist organizations have introduced high and low quality weapons, while exploiting civilians on the current battlefield,” he said.
Ashkenazi held a series of meetings with his foreign counterparts including chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen. He spoke to them about the developments in Lebanon and warned them about the consequences of a Hizbullah takeover after the Shiite party’s backed candidate, Najib Miqati, was nominated prime minister.
Israeli vice-prime minister Silvan Shalom said on Wednesday that Lebanon was being taken "hostage" by Iran and Hizbullah.
"The international community must do everything to stop Hizbullah and Iran from taking Lebanon hostage," Shalom told Israeli public radio.
"Hizbullah is not simply a terrorist organization, it's a terrorist organization controlled by the Iranian state," he said.
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