02/02/2010 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday accused Lebanon of allowing Hezbollah to develop its military force by "smuggling weapons" in what he claimed to be a violation of the UN resolution 1701.
"We are worried about developments in Lebanon and the great flow of weapons, rockets and missiles in blatant violation of (United Nations Security Council) Resolution 1701," Netanyahu told a press conference alongside his Italian counterpart, Silvio Berlusconi.
"Hezbollah is in the Lebanese government and is developing a military force under the government," Netanyahu noted. "These weapons are without doubt aimed at Israeli civilians," he went on to claim.
"It is the responsibility of the Lebanese government to prevent attacks against Israel and its citizens," the Israeli PM warned at the time Berlusconi was "assuring" him that he would raise the Israeli concerns when he meets Lebanon's PM Saad Hariri in Beirut this month.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu claimed that Hamas is the main obstacle to a prisoner swap involving Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. "If Hamas wants a deal, then it will happen," Netanyahu claimed. "If it doesn't want a deal, then there won't be one," he added.
"The choice is in its hands," the Israeli PM claimed. "We have a goal of bringing home Gilad Shalit alive and well, and to do this in a way that won't enable terrorists to resume murderous acts," he added.
Moving on to Israel's tense relations with Turkey, Netanyahu said that Israel's relations with Turkey are important. "They have recently experienced a decline, and that wasn't our choice," he said. "Naturally, any country which can help, like Italy, will be blessed. Can Silvio Berlusconi help? I assume he can," he added.
The Italian premier replied, saying: "We will do the best we can to allow a deep friendship between Israel and Turkey."
The Italian leader, however, offered to replace Turkey in mediating between Israel and Syria, saying he could relay messages from Tel Aviv to Damascus in his upcoming meetings with Syrian officials in the next few months.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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