Israel vows severe measures against Hezbollah

Harinder Mishra

JERUSALEM: Acknowledging that escalation in violence in Middle East caused 'humanitarian difficulties,' Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has, nevertheless, vowed to take the 'most severe measures' against Hezbollah in Lebanon as the new flare-up in the region looked set to enter the third week.

"Israel is determined to continue the fight against Hezbollah. We will ... stop them. We will not hesitate to take most severe measures against those who are aiming thousands of rockets and missiles against innocent civilians for the one purpose of killing them," Olmert said during a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.

Olmert, however, accepted that the ongoing battle causes humanitarian difficulties and said Israel would work with the US to deal with it.

"We are aware of the state of humanitarian affairs of the population of Lebanon as a result of the brutality of Hezbollah," he said.

"I think I can say in complete sincerity that Lebanon and Israel are both victims of this brutal terrorist, murderous organisation," the Prime Minister said.

On her part, Rice said "we need to ensure that we will not return to the previous situation."

Israel is insisting that Hezbollah be dismantled and the Lebanese army deployed at the Israeli-Lebanese border to work out any truce deal.

Olmert earlier had indicated that he is willing to accept the deployment of a European force to prepare the eventual deployment of Lebanese forces at the border.