Lebanese Army in Breach of Resolution 1701
Israeli deputy premier Silvan Shalom accused the Lebanese army on Thursday of violating U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 by failing to disarm Hizbullah.
"The (Lebanese) army forms a means of support for Hizbullah by authorizing entry into Lebanon of Syrian and Iranian truckloads of weapons," he told a press conference.
Israel has repeatedly breached Resolution 1701 by carrying out military over-flights and its occupation of Lebanese land. On July 8 the U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams criticized Israel for its over-flights.
Shalom however rejected accusations that Israel has not been abiding by the resolution.
He said that Israel "will continue to push the Security Council to complete an investigation" into an explosion last week in an abandoned house in the southern town of Khirbet Selm. "An incomplete investigation will allow Syria and Iran to continue their support for Hizbullah," he argued.
On Israeli-Syrian peace talks, Shalom said Israel must ask Syria to "end its alliance with Iran, Hizbullah and Hamas as a precondition for the resumption of negotiations."
To a question, Shalom said Israel "respects the decision of U.S. President Barack Obama”s administration to hold dialogue with Syria and Iran. But any attempt to reach out to Iran is a waste of time."
"Israel cannot live with a nuclear Iran," he said.