Attack on Israel from Lebanon threatens 2nd front

[GSPowner]

Jan 8, 7:29 AM (ET)

By IBRAHIM BARZAK and STEVE WEIZMAN

JERUSALEM (AP) - Lebanese militants fired at least three rockets into Israel early Thursday, threatening to open a new front for the Jewish state as it pushed forward with a bloody offensive in the Gaza Strip that has killed nearly 700 people.

Two people were lightly injured, and the rockets that exploded in Israel's north raised the specter of renewed hostilities with Hezbollah, just 2 1/2 years after Israel battled the guerrilla group to a 34-day stalemate. Hezbollah started the 2006 war as Israel was battling Palestinian militants in Gaza.

No group claimed responsibility and Lebanon's government, wary of conflict, quickly condemned the rocket fire. Israel fired mortar shells into southern Lebanon in response.

For a second straight day, Israel said it suspended is Gaza military operation for three hours to allow in humanitarian supplies.

More here:
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090108/D95IV5BG0.html

[rainy]

1. Hezbollah did not start the 2006 war. nt

[ixion]

2. correct

that was yet another illegal invasion by Israel.

[bemildred]

3. Israel hits back after Lebanese rocket strike raises tension

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Israel believes that Hizbollah has amassed an arsenal of about 40,000 missiles and accuses Iran of supplying the weapons. In the event of war, Israeli officials have pledged to launch an even more intense version of their assault on Lebanon in 2006 which claimed over 1,200 lives.

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PLFP-GC has pointedly refused to deny carrying out the attack. Observers agree that Palestinian groups are more likely to be behind the attacks than Hizbollah. Amal Saad Ghoreyeb, a commentator in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, and the author of a book on Hizbollah, said that the Shia group saw no need to intervene in the Gaza conflict.

"Hizbollah is optimistic about Hamas's performance," she said. "Hamas has been trained by Hizbollah and Iran, but they jealously guard their autonomy. If Hizbollah were to step in for Hamas, what would that say about them?"

An election is approaching in Lebanon and domestic politics helps explain why Hizbollah may choose to stay out. "Hizbollah and its allies have a good chance of winning the elections in June," said Ms Ghoreyeb. "That would be a strategic blow to Israel and the US. Why would they want to jeopardise that position?"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/4175731/Israel-hits-back-after-Lebanese-rocket-strike-raises-tension.html