Hizbullah is Real Lebanese Army
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Hizbullah "is real Lebanese army, not sideline militia as in the past."
Netanyahu”s remarks were made to members of Knesset”s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
"If in the past we considered Hizbullah as a sideline militia, today Hizbullah is the real Lebanese army," he said.
"It has replaced the Lebanese army as a significant force; it is arming and organizing as a real army. The Lebanese government and Hizbullah are becoming interwoven in each other – and they will suffer the consequences of any violation against Israel," he added.
Netanyahu said Israel wants direct talks with Syria, but if mediator needed, prefers France over Turkey.
On the construction of new settlements in the West Bank, Netanyahu said Cabinet”s decision was driven by many considerations, including "an attempt to advance negotiations and clarify who is really interested in talks," hinting that the Palestinians do not seek to promote dialogue with Israel.
"There must be coordination between the Cabinet”s decision and the injunction," he said, adding that in the last year of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert”s tenure construction was actually frozen and "we are the ones who renewed it."