Peretz: Israel does not intend to escalate situation in north

[Behind the Aegis]

Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Thursday that Israel does seek an escalation along the border with Lebanon, but stressed that the Israel Defense Forces will return fire when fired upon.

Peretz made the comments following special security consulatations on the situation in the north in the wake of the exchange of fire between IDF and Lebanese Army troops late Wednesday night.

Meeting with Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and senior IDF officials, Peretz said that the "Northern Command operated according to regulations and in the necessary and correct manner, in keeping with UN Security Council Resolution 1701."

"We have no intentions of escalation, but wherever there is fire endangering IDF forces we will have to react," he said. "UNIFIL forces and the Lebanese Army are fulfilling their roles, and we intend to continue to operate within the political and regulatory framework established in recent months."


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