“We have begun a process to achieve a historic peace between Israel and Lebanon, and it is clear to us that Hezbollah is trying to sabotage this,” Netanyahu said in his first statement since the ceasefire with Lebanon was extended.
Lebanon’s and Israel’s ambassadors to the US agreed on Thursday evening to extend the current ceasefire, which was due to expire on Monday, for another three weeks.
Hezbollah politician Ali Fayyad says the extension is meaningless as long as Israel continues its attacks on Lebanese villages, adding that any ceasefire that does not constitute a preparation for an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory confirms the right to resist.
Since the ten-day ceasefire came into effect last Friday, it has been repeatedly violated by both sides – and fighting has continued since the decision to extend it.
Israel said on Friday it had attacked military targets around the Lebanese village of Deir Aames in response to Hezbollah firing rockets at the northern Israeli town of Shtula yesterday. Fighting also raged in the Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, where six Hezbollah soldiers were killed, according to the Israeli military.
On Friday morning, Israel carried out two dawn raids in communities in southern Lebanon that killed two people, Lebanese media reported.
