'It will be us or Hezbollah'

2006-07-25 12:31

Jerusalem - Israel's offensive in Lebanon is "a matter of life and death" for the Jewish state, elder statesman and Nobel Peace laureate Shimon Peres told parliament on Tuesday.

"It will be us or Hezbollah," the deputy premier said.

Peres also appealed to the Lebanese people to disarm Hezbollah and make peace with Israel.

"You also do not have a choice. It will be you or Hezbollah. As for us, it is a question of life and death."

Hezbollah ?will be defeated?

Peres also said he was certain of victory.

"In this war, there is no alternative to victory against terrorists," he said.

"Morally, Hezbollah has already been defeated. It will also be defeated militarily."

Hezbollah made a strategic error, he said, when it assumed that "with 12 000 rockets, it could break Israel's spirit."

Peace

In a direct appeal to the Lebanese people, Peres said: "You proved that you could throw the Syrians out of the country, and you can rid your country of the weapons of Hezbollah."

"This could be your great opportunity," Peres said, referring to the Lebanese.

"You have at your service an army of 80 000 troops. Where are they?"

Peres said once Hezbollah was no longer a threat, Israel and Lebanon could make peace.

The statement marked uncharacteristically strong language for the man who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his part is securing the Oslo interim peace accords between Israel and the Palestinians.

AP and AFP

- News24