Lebanon pres. condemns Israel threats as intl. law violation

Lebanese President Michel Sleiman has condemned Israel’s recent threats against his country as a violation of international law.

Sleiman said in a statement on Thursday that the Tel Aviv regime’s threats also violate the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 that ended the 33-day war between the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, and Tel Aviv.
“The Israeli threats clearly violate Resolution 1701 on both political and international levels, in addition to the human rights principles,” Sleiman added.
The Lebanese president’s remarks came after the Israeli air force commander, Major General Amir Eshel, threatened to target Lebanese residential areas.
Eshel accused the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, of establishing bases in these areas and using civilians as human shields.
Sleiman stated that the threats would create instability among people and urged the international community and the UN to deal with the issue.
Tel Aviv has repeatedly threatened attacks on Lebanon since the end of the 33-day war in 2006.
Last month, Lebanon army commander General Jean Qahwaji said the military would respond to any Israeli aggression. He added that the military was committed to the implementation of all the UN Security Council resolutions, in particular Resolution 1701.
Israeli warplanes violate Lebanon’s airspace almost on a daily basis, claiming the flights serve surveillance purposes.
Lebanon’s government, the Hezbollah resistance movement, and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, have repeatedly condemned the over-flights, saying they are in clear violation of UN Resolution 1701 and the country’s sovereignty.