Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 8 / Trend /
Israel is not interested in launching a new front on the Lebanese border despite a retaliatory attack on southern Lebanon.
"Israel retaliated after shells were fired at northern Israel from Lebanon," Al Jazeera quoted Israeli army spokeswoman Major Avital Liebovich as saying.
Police officers said several rockets were fired early morning Jan. 8 into the northern Israeli town of Nahariya from Lebanon. Israel replied by firing missiles into southern Lebanon, BBC reported. Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora was swift to condemn the attack and called upon the army and UN to investigate the incident.
The Lebanese Hezbollah party did not claim responsibility for the shelling, although Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah yesterday spoke openly about renewed conflicts with Israel due to the offensive in Gaza.
"We can't place responsibility on anyone because we have no information on the matter," Liebovich said. "Israel knows the Lebanese government wants to keep the 2006 truce." Palestinian physicians said at least 700 people have been killed since Israel launched military operations against Hamas in Gaza, ВВС reported.
The Israeli government does not intend to halt the offensive without a ceasefire agreement. On Jan. 7, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Israel had accepted a ceasefire plan brokered jointly with Egypt. Under the plan, Israel and Hamas will cease fire and give Egypt time to take further steps to secure a long-term truce.
Today, Egypt will host a meeting with the Israeli prime minister and Palestinian leader in Cairo to discuss a possible truce. Egypt will mediate the talks.
After a 3-hour ceasefire agreement expired today, Israel resumed air strikes on tunnels near the Egyptian border. Hamas delivers weapons through the tunnels, the Israeli media reported.
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