WASHINGTON (AFX) - Lebanon's Justice Minister Charles Rizk said that Israel's raid of his country could 'sabotage' an already shaky truce, discouraging European powers from sending peackeeping troops and giving Hezbollah militants an excuse not to disarm.
'When you have some actions as the Israeli raid the other day, this really gives a very bad sign to the European or to outside forces ... and makes them shy, as matter of fact, to expose their soldiers to this,' Rizk told CNN television.
Rizk said the 'very unfortunate action' by the Israelis 'took place as if it was to sabotage this process,' adding that Israel's actions also 'give an alibi for Hezbollah to stop talking about disarming.'
Both Lebanon and the United Nations have slammed the raid as a violation of the UN-brokered ceasefire which took effect last Monday to end 34 days of warfare.
Israeli officials remained defiant however, warning Sunday that it would keep up raids against Hezbollah to prevent the Shiite militia from getting weapons to prepare for the 'next round' of war.
The ceasefire, UN Security Council Resolution 1701, calls, among other demands, for Hezbollah to disarm, something that the Shiite militant group has so far refused to do, maintaining its right to fight as long as Israeli troops are in Lebanon.
'This is a long process,' Rizk said. 'It has to come progressively. We were progressing, and today we have two envoys from the United Nations Secretary General who are discussing this in detail with the Lebanese government,' he said.
Rizk added that Beirut is 'perfectly determined to begin the implementation of 1701.' newsdesk@afxnews.com afp/jlw COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited