ISRAEL: Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Lebanon after more than a week of bombardment

Record ID: 397174

  • Title: ISRAEL: Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Lebanon after more than a week of bombardment
  • Date: 21st July 2006
  • Summary: (W2) TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (JULY 20, 2006) (REUTERS) ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON MIRI EISIN (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON MIRI EISIN, SAYING: "The Israeli prime minister, in consultation with the Israeli defence minister and foreign minister, has decided to enable the opening of a humanitarian sea corridor between Cyprus and Lebanon which will allow
  • Embargoed: 5th August 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA36GPHE2QEQ6IYDSO2OU4OSX29
  • Story Text: Israel pounded Lebanon from the air on Friday (July 21) and one general said it might soon expand ground operations in its bloody assault on Hizbollah guerrillas.
    After 10 days of relentless bombardment which has destroyed much of Lebanon's infrastructure, Israel has been unable to stop Hizbollah firing rockets into the Jewish state, raising the possibility that it may have to push across the border in strength.
    Israelis still overwhelmingly back the war, with 90 percent wanting it to go on until Hizbollah is driven from southern Lebanon and 95 percent saying the army's response was justified, a poll in Maariv newspaper showed on Friday. Only eight percent said Israel should stop fighting and enter negotiations.
    Despite the assault, Hizbollah is still firing rockets at Israeli towns and combating Israeli troop incursions.
    Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the war against Hizbollah would continue, but agreed on Thursday (July 20) to allow humanitarian aid to flow in Lebanon, a government spokesperson confirmed.
    "Israel recognises the difficulties that Lebanon is going through. We have no fight with the Lebanese people and we have a strong interest to allow this humanitarian support by the international community," Israeli government spokeswoman Miri Eisin said.
    Israel has imposed a blockade on the country as it presses the offensive against Hizbollah but the Jewish state has not stopped foreign countries from evacuating their nationals from Lebanon.
    Despite calls for a ceasefire from parts of the international community, Israel has said it will not negotiate with Hizbollah.
    "Our hostages have to be released immediately and without condition and we have to create a situation and I think the international community is solidly behind us, in which Hizbollah is disarmed and they can no longer create the sort of crisis, they can no longer initiate the sort of international emergency situation that we have today. We have to take the guns away from these extremists," Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said.
    Israel began its assault after Hizbollah captured two soldiers and killed eight in a cross-border raid on July 12. It has also waged a military campaign in Gaza since June 28 to recover another soldier, seized by Palestinian militants.
    Its campaign has killed at least 312 people in Lebanon, the vast majority civilians, and displaced half a million. Thirty-four Israeli troops and civilians have been killed.
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