Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said on Tuesday evening that he hoped Israel would be able to lift its air and sea blockade of Lebanon soon, Israel's newspaper Ha'aretz reported.

Peretz made the remarks after his meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who arrived in Israel on Tuesday afternoon for a two-day visit after the 34-day-long Israel- Hezbollah conflict.

In his part, Annan called on Israel to end the sea and air blockade imposed on Lebanon at the start of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. He made the call hours before his meeting with the families of the three captive Israeli soldiers both in Lebanon and Gaza Strip.

"I think the time has come for the siege to be lifted. The Lebanese have shown they're serious about the implementation of ( UN resolution) 1701 in all the deployments and efforts they have made," said the world body chief.

Israel has been imposing an air and sea blockade in Lebanon since it launched massive attacks there on July 12 after Hezbollah guerillas kidnapped two Israeli soldiers in cross-border raids.

During the meeting, Annan also called on the Lebanon's Hezbollah to free the two Israeli soldiers it is holding.

"We need to resolve the issue of the abducted soldiers very quickly," said Annan, adding that "we need to deal with the lifting of the embargo - sea, land and air - which for the Lebanese is a humiliation and an infringement on their sovereignty."

Meanwhile, Annan also revealed that the United Nations hoped to double its 2,500-strong force in southern Lebanon by Friday.

Resolution 1701 on ending hostilities in Lebanon, calls for Israel's withdrawal and authorizes an increase of the existing UN force in Lebanon to 15,000 troops to help Lebanese troops take control of southern Lebanon as Israel withdraws. The resolution has been approved by both Israel and Lebanon.

Source: Xinhua