Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora on Wednesday denounced the launching of missiles from Lebanese territory onto Israeli Jewish communities.
Several Katyusha rockets were fired onto northern Israel on Tuesday evening. The attack signified an escalation of violence in Israel’s north, which has been relatively quiet since Israel withdrew its army from southern Lebanon in May 2000.
The Israeli army spokesman said it holds the Lebanese government responsible for these attacks, since Beirut is required to dismantle terror organizations operating from Lebanon.
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Israel believes the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command was responsible for the attacks. Since the Lebanese terror organization Hizbullah dominates southern Lebanon, Israel says the attacks were carried out with Hizbullah’s blessing.
Both organizations have denied connection to the attack.
Israel attacked Palestinian training camps south of Beirut after the attack.
Siniora said the launching of missiles and the subsequent Israeli response “aims to destabilize Lebanon and deflect attention from efforts to continue domestic dialogue,” the Lebanese daily A-Nahar reported.
Siniora called on Palestinians residing in Lebanon to cooperate with the Lebanese government and not take any weapons outside the Palestinian camps. “The existence [of weapons] outside the camps only serves the interest of the enemy who strives to harm Lebanon’s stability,” he said.