BEIRUT: Initial reactions by Lebanese political leaders to Hezbollah’s deadly attack on an Israeli military convoy in an occupied region of south Lebanon Wednesday drew a mix of praise, blame and fear of escalation.
Hours after the attack in the occupied Shebaa Farms which killed four Israeli soldiers, no official government comment was issued. But MPs visiting Speaker Nabih Berri said he was conducting high-level consultations to contain the ensuing exchange of fire, which killed a Spanish U.N. peacekeeper.
MP Walid Jumblatt wrote on his Twitter account, “it seems that we have entered a phase of big troubles.” He also called for taking “relevant precautions” to confront a possible Israeli aggression against Lebanon.
Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea of the March 14 coalition which is opposed to Hezbollah, held the party solely responsible for any potential Israeli response, and for drawing Lebanon into a battle with Israel without the consent of its people and government.
“Today’s development indicates that Hezbollah is more and more expanding its regional schemes against the Lebanese state,” Geagea said.
“Hezbollah has no right to implicate the Lebanese people in a battle with Israel. There is a government and a parliament which can decide on that,” Geagea added, deploring “Hezbollah’s lack of transparency” in its ongoing dialogue with political rival, the Future Movement.
Former Minister Faisal Karami of the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition applauded the ambush of the Israeli military convoy as “the relevant response at the relevant time and relevant place.”
“Time of impunity for Israel is over. Now (the Israelis) need to review calculations, absorb defeat and run to shelters,” Karami said.
Former President Michel Sleiman called on political forces to stand firmly behind the government, cautioning that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to draw Lebanon into a confrontation to serve his election interests.
“Israel should not be allowed to take advantage of Lebanese divisions,” Sleiman said.
“Political forces should back the government and reinforce its position to give Lebanon (bigger) immunity in order to overcome this difficult period,” he added.
Meanwhile, U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Sigrid Kaag, called on Lebanon and Israel to exercise self-restraint and to refrain from taking any action that could further destabilize the situation along the Blue Line.
All parties are strongly urged to continue to abide by their obligations under Security Council resolution 1701, Kaag said in a statement.
Musa Abu Marzouk, deputy head of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, described Hezbollah’s attack as “a natural and legitimate response to Israel's crimes.”
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