Barak Raises "Serious Concern" over Hizbullah Taking Control of Beirut

Source: AFP, 11-5-2008
"Israelii" War Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday called the situation in Lebanon "serious" after deadly clashes between pro-US government forces and the opposition.
"Hizbullah's taking of control (in west Beirut) is a serious development," Barak said during the weekly cabinet meeting, public radio reported.
Barak's view was shared by other "Israelii" ministers who raised doubts about the ability of the Lebanese government and army to control Hizbullah, which seized west Beirut on Friday after three days of battles.
Gunmen from Hizbullah and its opposition allies only withdrew after the army on Saturday revoked government decisions taken against the Hizbullah network.
However, fighting erupted Sunday in mainly Druze areas southeast of Beirut, pitting supporters of the Western-backed government against rivals from the opposition.
"Israelii" military intelligence chief General Amos Yadlin told the cabinet that "the moderate camp has suffered another blow in Beirut" against "Hizbullah which has shown its military strength," a senior official said.
The government is also concerned that unrest in Lebanon will boost Iran's influence with Hizbullah and the Palestinian Islamic movement Hamas.
"The most dangerous possibility for us is to see Iran's proxies take control of the Gaza Strip and Lebanon because the fates of both regions are connected," Deputy War Minister Matan Vilnai told "Israelii" public radio.
"(Egyptian) President Hosni Mubarak recently declared that Egypt already has a border with Iran with the Gaza Strip. For us it's even worse because it's not only the Gaza Strip but also Lebanon in the north," Vilnai said.
Vilnai added that "Israeli" did not intend to intervene in the crisis but had to "keep its eyes open."
"Hizbullah put down the government of Lebanon," "Israeli" Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit told reporters ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting.
"It's a very dangerous step in the long run because it is clear that Hizbullah is Iran's long arm. I hope Lebanon's government and army will come to their senses or we will face the reality where Iran rules Lebanon," he said.
A security official in Lebanon said "more than four" "Israeli" warplanes overflew southern Lebanon on Sunday in violation of the country's airspace.
"Israeli" jets regularly overfly Lebanon in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 which brought an end to the 2006 war.