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Israel eases blockade of Lebanon | Israel eases blockade of Lebanon |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Israel has partly eased a blockade of Lebanon imposed in July at the start of its conflict with Hezbollah fighters. | |
Israel said the air blockade was lifted at 1800 (1500 GMT) but a naval embargo would remain until a sufficient UN naval force was in place. | |
Relatives of two Israeli soldiers, whose capture triggered the conflict, said the blockade should not be lifted until they had been 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 1500 GMT. | Israel had cautioned a full lifting of the embargo would not happen "when the bell rings" at 1500 GMT. |
A spokeswoman for Israeli PM Ehud Olmert said "the naval blockade will continue until the international naval force is in place." | |
The spokeswoman said the lifting was "a gradual process" that "could take hours or a day [to complete]". | |
Italian, French and Greek ships are expected to patrol the coast until a German-led force takes over. | |
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he hoped Italian, French and Greek naval forces "will organise quickly and that we can pull back when they take up positions". | |
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. | "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 met Mr Olmert on Thursday to express their concerns. | |
Shlomo Goldwasser, father of one of the soldiers, said: "The blockade was a way to pressure Hezbollah, but there's no blockade any more." | |
"I'm not even angry. It just makes me even more sad." | |
Benny Regev, brother of the other captured soldier earlier told Israeli radio: "As far as we know the two kidnapped soldiers are currently in Lebanon... 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. |
The Spanish government on Thursday approved sending a team of 1,100 troops to join the UN force in Lebanon. | |
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. |