Hezbollah hits back at Kouchner attack

Jan 23, 2010, 10:16 GMT

Beirut- The Lebanese Shiite movement, Hezbollah, hit back at French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner Saturday, over his recent comments condemning the group and linking it to Iran.

'Israel is our friend, and if there was a threat to Lebanon, it will only come from a military adventure carried out by Hezbollah in the best interest of Iran,' Kouchner reportedly told the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri during a visit to Paris on Friday.

'Kouchner's statement carried clear echoes for the Israeli voice and a full denial for France's history and its legacy in resisting aggression and occupation,' said a statement by Hezbollah.

'This stance is an attempt to acquit Israel and to cover up its relentless violations of Lebanese sovereignty, the thing which represents a shield for its occupation and an encouragement for it to pursue its aggressions,' Hezbollah said.

The statement refers to daily Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace, in breach of UN Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon.

The UN Security Council has listed 388 Israeli airspace violations on behalf of Israel against Lebanon, in its report last June.

Last week, Ehud Barak, Israel's defence minister, warned Hezbollah to 'avoid entering in conflict with us.'

Israel has said that it will hold the Lebanese responsible for any violations by Hezbollah of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701.

Barak reiterated that should Hezbollah carry out any attacks, Israel would retaliate against not just Hezbollah, but Lebanon and anyone else who helps Hezbollah.