MK Amir Peretz (Labor) gave credit to Israel on Monday for Hizbullah's defeat in elections in Lebanon. In an interview with the Hebrew-language daily Yediot Aharonot, Peretz said the seeds of Hizbullah's defeat were sown in the Second Lebanon War.
"It's obvious that the way in which the state of Israel responded three years ago made it clear to the people of Lebanon that Hizbullah was leading them to ruin,” he said.
Despite Hizbullah's defeat, Israel must be cautious, Peretz continued. Lebanon still maintains tight ties to Syria and Iran. Israel should be “careful rather than arrogant” following the elections, he said.
Peretz served as Defense Minister during the Second Lebanon War. Following the war, Peretz and other senior political and defense officials were criticized for allegedly mismanaging the fighting.
According to both Hizbullah leaders and senior Israeli military officials, Hizbullah has more than succeeded in restoring its weapons supplies and infrastructure following the war, and has even increased its supply of rockets despite the United Nations presence in Lebanon.
Hizbullah: Respect our Role
Hizbullah has accepted its elections defeat, but warned Monday against any attempt to disarm its operatives. “The majority must commit not to question our role as a resistance party, the legitimacy of our weapons arsenal and the fact that Israel is an enemy state,” a senior party member told AFP.
The Hizbullah-led pro-Syrian bloc won 57 seats, compared to 71 for the majority coalition. Hizbullah itself won 11 seats.