Statement by FM Livni on attack from Lebanon
Reproduced from email. Should be on the MFA site relatively soon:
Israel was attacked today from Lebanon.
Hizbullah is a terrorist organization, which is part of the Lebanese government. The international community, including the Security Council, has demanded, repeatedly, time and again, that the government of Lebanon dismantle Hizbullah. Lebanon has failed to act and today's aggression is the result.
Israel views the government of Lebanon as responsible for today's unprovoked aggression.
There is an axis of terror and hate, created by Iran, Syria, Hizbullah and Hamas that wants to end any hope for peace. The world cannot let them succeed.
In these circumstances, Israel has no alternative but to defend itself and its citizens. We also expect the international community to act.
We will fight back, in order to fight for peace.
Being Israel's lead diplomat has to be one of the most difficult and surreal jobs on the planet. On one hand, you have to observe diplomatic nicities - "we also expect the international community to act". And yet occassionally, brute reality intruds and causes you to let slip that international diplomats seem far more willing to let Arab states slide on their obligations than, say, they are when it comes to the Jewish state - "the Security Council, has demanded, repeatedly, time and again, that the government of Lebanon dismantle Hizbullah" but no one seems to care..
Israel was attacked today from Lebanon.
Hizbullah is a terrorist organization, which is part of the Lebanese government. The international community, including the Security Council, has demanded, repeatedly, time and again, that the government of Lebanon dismantle Hizbullah. Lebanon has failed to act and today's aggression is the result.
Israel views the government of Lebanon as responsible for today's unprovoked aggression.
There is an axis of terror and hate, created by Iran, Syria, Hizbullah and Hamas that wants to end any hope for peace. The world cannot let them succeed.
In these circumstances, Israel has no alternative but to defend itself and its citizens. We also expect the international community to act.
We will fight back, in order to fight for peace.
Being Israel's lead diplomat has to be one of the most difficult and surreal jobs on the planet. On one hand, you have to observe diplomatic nicities - "we also expect the international community to act". And yet occassionally, brute reality intruds and causes you to let slip that international diplomats seem far more willing to let Arab states slide on their obligations than, say, they are when it comes to the Jewish state - "the Security Council, has demanded, repeatedly, time and again, that the government of Lebanon dismantle Hizbullah" but no one seems to care..
