Israel blames Iran for supplying weapons to Hizbul militants

Kolkata, Aug 14 (UNI) The month-long hostility between Israeli forces and Hizbul militants in Lebanon claiming over 1,000 lives so far, may finally come to an end following the implementation of a UN sponsored ceasefire in the region from today, an Israeli diplomat said.

This sense of optimism was expressed by Michal Gur-Aryeh, the official Spokesperson of the Israeli Embassy in India, while participating in an interactive session with members of the ''Indo-Isreal Friendship Association'' here this evening.

Ms Aryeh, who has come to the city to bring to the fore the viewpoint of the Israeli government in the wake of growing public opinion against the continuous bombing of Israeli military forces in Lebanon killing thousands of innocent civilians there, however, came down heavily on Iran for supplying a wide range of sophisticated weaponary, including rockets and surface to surface medium range missiles, to the Hizbul militants for razing a full scale war against Isreal.

However, with the introduction of the ceasefire under strict international monitoring, the Israelis are now hopeful that the senseless hostility by the ''misguided religious fanatics like the Hizbul'' would finally come to an end bringing a 'lasting peace' in the region, she said.

Explaining the reasons for such high casualty among Lebanese civilians in the war in which they had no role, the Israeli spokesperson armed with recent visual clipplings blamed the Hizbul militants for using Lebanese common men and women as ''Human shields'' in the face of Israeli counter attacks for such ''unfortunate events''.

Since every Isreli household had underground bunkers to protect the inmates from bombing as part of the country's mandatory regulation, the number of casualties on their side, despite mounting attacks by the militants, was comparatively low, Ms Aryeh explained.

On whether the Government of India had sought intervention or any help from the Israeli counterpart to effectively deal with its ''war on terror'' following the Mumbai serial bomb blasts and other acts of terrorism in the country, Ms Aryeh without providing any direct answer said as part of a long standing defence cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries ''all necessary assistance are being provided to deal with the menace''.

Regarding any possibility of spilling over the present hostility to Iran in ther wake of allegedly finding direct evidence of its regular arms supply to the Hizbul militants, the Isreali government spokesperson ruling out any such eventuality, said ''like any other peace loving nation Israel too want to remain in peace and does not want to wage war against anybody''.

In this connection she also made it clear that her government had no enmity against Lebanon and its people.''Our target was only the militant groups operating from its soil'', she emphasised.

Among others, the session was also attended by former Governor of Mizoram A R Kohli, former Deputy Inspector General of Police Sultan Singh,IPS, Former Chairman of North Eastern Council and well known bureaucrat Kamal Taori and fomer member of Parliament and Ex Chairman Kolkata Port Trust Bikram Sarkar.

All of them severely condemning the unprovoked hostility of various militant groups including the Hizbulas in Lebanon, however, hoped that the UN ceasefire would help bring about a permanent peace in the region.

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