IDF soldiers were set to hold their fire starting at 8:00 a.m. Monday morning, when the new ceasefire set forth in UNSC Resolution 1701 went into effect. However, Defense Minister Amir Peretz made it clear that the naval and land blockade of Lebanon would not be lifted until other elements of the resolution are in place.
Travel in and out of Lebanon will not be allowed until the country has developed and implemented a system to supervise border crossings and prevent terrorists from acquiring arms from outside the country, he said. This means that naval ships and IDF ground troops will continue to block vehicles and individuals trying to enter or leave the country.
The IDF was instructed to silence the guns when the ceasefire officially went into effect, but if Hizbullah terrorists break the agreement, the Defense Minister added, soldiers were ordered to return fire immediately.
Former Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz was skeptical that Hizbullah would honor the truce, and warned it was unlikely the terror group would actually be disarmed as mandated in the agreement.
"We cannot be left with a piece of paper in our hands that will not be implemented. There is nothing specific about dismantling Hizbullah so it will not be dismantled,” cautioned Mofaz. “Any other country that had more than 4,000 missiles fired upon its people would not accept a draft whose implementation is left in doubt."
Mofaz was the sole minister in the cabinet who did not vote to accept the resolution, instead choosing to abstain. Nonetheless, Peretz reassured military and government leaders that the agreement would not leave Israel unprotected.
“We will not accept a situation in which soldiers are hurt and we do not respond,” said Peretz on Sunday. “We will retaliate with all means necessary. He praised IDF forces for having helped push the international community into writing a resolution specifically meant to guarantee peace in the north of Israel. “There was never an agreement more favorable to Israel,” he said.
Travel in and out of Lebanon will not be allowed until the country has developed and implemented a system to supervise border crossings and prevent terrorists from acquiring arms from outside the country, he said. This means that naval ships and IDF ground troops will continue to block vehicles and individuals trying to enter or leave the country.
The IDF was instructed to silence the guns when the ceasefire officially went into effect, but if Hizbullah terrorists break the agreement, the Defense Minister added, soldiers were ordered to return fire immediately.
Former Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz was skeptical that Hizbullah would honor the truce, and warned it was unlikely the terror group would actually be disarmed as mandated in the agreement.
"We cannot be left with a piece of paper in our hands that will not be implemented. There is nothing specific about dismantling Hizbullah so it will not be dismantled,” cautioned Mofaz. “Any other country that had more than 4,000 missiles fired upon its people would not accept a draft whose implementation is left in doubt."
Mofaz was the sole minister in the cabinet who did not vote to accept the resolution, instead choosing to abstain. Nonetheless, Peretz reassured military and government leaders that the agreement would not leave Israel unprotected.
“We will not accept a situation in which soldiers are hurt and we do not respond,” said Peretz on Sunday. “We will retaliate with all means necessary. He praised IDF forces for having helped push the international community into writing a resolution specifically meant to guarantee peace in the north of Israel. “There was never an agreement more favorable to Israel,” he said.