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| Israel eases blockade of Lebanon | Israel eases blockade of Lebanon |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Israel has begun to lift its blockade of Lebanon, eight weeks after imposing it following the capture of two soldiers by Hezbollah militants. | Israel has begun to lift its blockade of Lebanon, eight weeks after imposing it following the capture of two soldiers by Hezbollah militants. |
| Israel said the air blockade was lifted at 1800 (1500GMT) but the naval embargo would remain until a sufficient UN naval force was in place. | Israel said the air blockade was lifted at 1800 (1500GMT) but the naval embargo would remain until a sufficient UN naval force was in place. |
| The UN and EU welcomed the easing but the soldiers' relatives said it should happen only after the pair were freed. | The UN and EU welcomed the easing but the soldiers' relatives said it should happen only after the pair were freed. |
| The embargo held back recovery after Israel's seven-week bombardment. | The embargo held back recovery after Israel's seven-week bombardment. |
| Fighting ended on 14 August after the UN passed Resolution 1701 which called for a ceasefire and security arrangements for Israel's northern border. | Fighting ended on 14 August after the UN passed Resolution 1701 which called for a ceasefire and security arrangements for Israel's northern border. |
| The two kidnapped soldiers are currently in Lebanon - tomorrow, with the blockade lifted, they can find themselves in Tehran Benny Regev, brother of captured soldier | The two kidnapped soldiers are currently in Lebanon - tomorrow, with the blockade lifted, they can find themselves in Tehran Benny Regev, brother of captured soldier |
| But Israel kept up the blockade of Lebanese seaports and allowed only two airlines to use Beirut's international airport, on condition flights stopped over in Jordan. | But Israel kept up the blockade of Lebanese seaports and allowed only two airlines to use Beirut's international airport, on condition flights stopped over in Jordan. |
| Israel said international troops needed to be in place to prevent Hezbollah smuggling weapons into Lebanon. | Israel said international troops needed to be in place to prevent Hezbollah smuggling weapons into Lebanon. |
| Israel had cautioned a full lifting of the embargo would not happen "when the bell rings" at 1500GMT. | Israel had cautioned a full lifting of the embargo would not happen "when the bell rings" at 1500GMT. |
| Miri Eisen, a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said: "The aerial blockade has been removed. In co-ordination with the United Nations, the naval blockade will continue until the international naval force is in place." | Miri Eisen, a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said: "The aerial blockade has been removed. In co-ordination with the United Nations, the naval blockade will continue until the international naval force is in place." |
| Italian and French ships are expected to patrol the coast until a German-led force takes over. | Italian and French ships are expected to patrol the coast until a German-led force takes over. |
| Ms Eisen said the lifting was "a gradual process" that "could take hours or a day [to complete]". | Ms Eisen said the lifting was "a gradual process" that "could take hours or a day [to complete]". |
| A Middle East Airways flight from Paris landed at Beirut shortly after 1500GMT. | A Middle East Airways flight from Paris landed at Beirut shortly after 1500GMT. |
| "This is the first sign that the Lebanese are recovering their freedom," said Lebanese Transport Minister Mohammed Safadi. | |
| Lost leverage | Lost leverage |
| Lebanon estimates the country has been losing $30m-50m a day in trade because of the blockade - money desperately needed to help the rebuilding. | Lebanon estimates the country has been losing $30m-50m a day in trade because of the blockade - money desperately needed to help the rebuilding. |
| UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan says he hopes the move will "allow a permanent ceasefire and stabilise the situation between Israel and Lebanon". | UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan says he hopes the move will "allow a permanent ceasefire and stabilise the situation between Israel and Lebanon". |
| There has been anger about the move in Israel, where Mr Olmert is already under pressure for his handling of the abortive military campaign to release the soldiers. | There has been anger about the move in Israel, where Mr Olmert is already under pressure for his handling of the abortive military campaign to release the soldiers. |
| Cabinet and Kadima party colleague Shaul Mofaz said the blockade should have been maintained until Lebanon gave information on the fate of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. | Cabinet and Kadima party colleague Shaul Mofaz said the blockade should have been maintained until Lebanon gave information on the fate of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. |
| Relatives of the two men are due to meet Mr Olmert later on Thursday to express their concerns. | Relatives of the two men are due to meet Mr Olmert later on Thursday to express their concerns. |
| "As far as we know the two kidnapped soldiers are currently in Lebanon," Eldad Regev's brother Benny told Israeli radio. "Tomorrow, with the blockade lifted, they can find themselves in Tehran." | "As far as we know the two kidnapped soldiers are currently in Lebanon," Eldad Regev's brother Benny told Israeli radio. "Tomorrow, with the blockade lifted, they can find themselves in Tehran." |
| International pressure | International pressure |
| In Beirut, newspaper headlines celebrated ahead of the lifting of the blockade. "Lebanon opens up to the world again," said one. | In Beirut, newspaper headlines celebrated ahead of the lifting of the blockade. "Lebanon opens up to the world again," said one. |
| Lebanese Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said Israel had caved in as a result of Lebanon's refusal to compromise, coupled with international pressure on the Jewish state. | Lebanese Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said Israel had caved in as a result of Lebanon's refusal to compromise, coupled with international pressure on the Jewish state. |
| Lifting the blockade means rebuilding Lebanon can accelerate | Lifting the blockade means rebuilding Lebanon can accelerate |
| UN officials have said German boats will lead a contingent of naval vessels from other countries - including France, Italy, Greece and the UK - in policing Lebanon's coastline. | UN officials have said German boats will lead a contingent of naval vessels from other countries - including France, Italy, Greece and the UK - in policing Lebanon's coastline. |
| Correspondents say supervising Lebanon's airspace and coastline is the first major test for the UN force charged with keeping the peace and preventing arms shipments from reaching Hezbollah. | Correspondents say supervising Lebanon's airspace and coastline is the first major test for the UN force charged with keeping the peace and preventing arms shipments from reaching Hezbollah. |
| Israel is also pulling its troops out of southern Lebanon as international peacekeepers arrive. | Israel is also pulling its troops out of southern Lebanon as international peacekeepers arrive. |
| About 3,250 international troops are now in Lebanon under the UN banner, and UN officials say that figure could reach 5,000 troops next week. | About 3,250 international troops are now in Lebanon under the UN banner, and UN officials say that figure could reach 5,000 troops next week. |
| UN Resolution 1701 calls for a force of up to 15,000 peacekeepers to help police the border with Israel along with a similar sized Lebanese force. | UN Resolution 1701 calls for a force of up to 15,000 peacekeepers to help police the border with Israel along with a similar sized Lebanese force. |
| More than 1,100 Lebanese and about 160 Israelis died in the conflict, sparked by the capture of the two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah in a cross-border raid. | More than 1,100 Lebanese and about 160 Israelis died in the conflict, sparked by the capture of the two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah in a cross-border raid. |