Israel hopes to end Lebanon blockade soon: DM

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, for the purpose of cementing the ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese after the 34-day-long Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

Peretz also stressed the importance of disarming Hezbollah, saying "I hope that a way will be found to implement the weapons embargo on Hezbollah."

During their meeting, Annan called on Israel to lift the blockade on Lebanon as soon as possible, so that Lebanon could go on with normal commercial activities and rebuild its economy.

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.

Annan also met with the families of three kidnapped Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

He told Peretz that "he views the issue of the kidnapped soldiers as one of the central issues in the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701."

Hours before Annan's meeting with the captives' families, Annan called on Lebanon's Hezbollah to free the two Israeli soldiers it is holding, reported the paper.

"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. "

"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.

Meanwhile, Annan said that the United Nations hoped to double its 2,500-strong peace-keeping 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.

According to the schedule released by Israeli government, Annan will on Wednesday have breakfast with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, after which the two will hold a joint press conference.

Annan is also to meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on the day. After that, Annan will go to the West Bank city of Ramallah for talks with Palestinian Officials.

Israel is the second leg of Annan's Mideast regional tour after Lebanon, which is expected to also take him to Syria or Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan.

Source: Xinhua