BEIRUT, May 4: Hezbollah's leader on Monday condemned Israel's operations in Lebanon amid a fragile ceasefire, repeating the group's rejection of direct negotiations between the Israeli and Lebanese governments.
Israel has kept up deadly strikes on Lebanon despite the April 17 ceasefire that sought to halt more than six weeks of war between its military and Hezbollah, with both sides accusing the other of violating the truce.
"There is no ceasefire in Lebanon, but a continuous Israeli-American aggression," Hezbollah leader NaimQassem said in a written statement broadcast by the al-Manar TV channel, which is affiliated with the Iran-backed militant group.
"Lebanon is the victim of aggression, and it is Lebanon that needs guarantees for its security and sovereignty" from Israel, he added.
The US embassy in Beirut had on Thursday called for a meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which it said would be a "historic opportunity" for the Lebanese people "to shape their future".
Reuters adds, Lebanon's parliament speaker, who is the most senior Shi'ite politician and a close ally of Hezbollah, said on Monday there could be no negotiations with Israel without a halt to the war that has raged on in southern Lebanon in spite of a ceasefire.
Israel invaded Lebanon in March to root out Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shi'ite armed group, which fired across the border in support of Tehran after the United ?States and Israel attacked Iran. Tehran says any deal to end the wider war must also halt fighting in Lebanon, though Washington says the issues are separate.
Israel and Lebanon agreed a ceasefire in mid-April which has since been extended into May. But while fighting has been diminished, it has not halted, with Israel maintaining an occupation of southern Lebanon and demolishing villages there, while Hezbollah has continued attacks on Israeli forces.
Berri told Lebanon's An-Nahar newspaper the priority must be "stopping the war before any political track", and that he rejected any negotiations without guarantees Israel would halt attacks, according to a summary of his comments released by his office. �"AFP, REUTERS
