ISRAEL: EHUD BARAK VISITS ISRAELI/LEBANON BORDER (2)

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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English/Nat Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Barak said on Tuesday that he's not closing the door to peace in the Middle East, but will do what is necessary to protect his people. Barak spoke following Monday's airstrikes on several targets in Lebanon. Thousands of Israelis fled the country's tense northern border after the bombing which was carried out in retaliation for recent Hezbollah attacks that killed five Israeli soldiers. Israel's northern town of Kiryat Shemona. Prime Minister Ehud Barak visited the area and met with local people in an underground bomb shelter. His visit follows Israeli airstrikes on power stations and Hezbollah guerrilla bases in southern Lebanon. The Israeli prime minister accused Hezbollah of violating the understanding brokered by the United States not to target civilians in attacks. Israel announced on Tuesday that it may withdraw troops from Lebanon months before a self-imposed July deadline - with or without Syrian consent. Syria, the main power broker in Lebanon, has always said publicly that it wants Israel to pull out of southern Lebanon. A unilateral Israeli withdrawal, however, could increase international pressure on Syria to leave as well and would weaken its position in peace negotiations. Until now, Syria has used the conflict in Lebanon as a bargaining chip in negotiations for the return of the Golan Heights - Syria's main demand in peace talks. If the Israelis pull-out unilaterally, they could be less open to Syrian pressure. Barak said his country's military operation early Tuesday was intended to signal to the Lebanese government and Hezbollah, and even to the Syrians, that Israel is not ready to accept unilateral violations. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Our operation yesterday was intended to signal to the Lebanese government, the Hezbollah and indirectly even to the Syrian state, that Israel is not ready to accept a unilateral violation of the peace agreement and whatever it takes to defend our citizens, we will do, it as would do in the same situation any free world government." SUPER CAPTION: Ehud Barak, Israeli Prime Minister The prime minister had campaigned on a promise to withdraw Israeli troops from south Lebanon by July. In the past he has said he would prefer to make such a move in agreement with Syria and Lebanon. Following the airstrikes on Monday, tanks, heavy artillery, armoured personnel carriers and army trucks have massed on the Israeli side of the old border with Lebanon. But Israeli army sources say the military build-up isn't a precursor of imminent action in the security zone, following the airstrikes. Israeli defence sources say three electricity relay stations - near Beirut, the northern city of Tripoli and Baalbek near the Syrian border - were hit in the raids. An alleged Hezbollah underground headquarters in Baalbek was also attacked. The raids have made the resumption of peace talks with Syria - a major goal of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak - appear even more remote. Fearing retaliatory rocket attacks by Hezbollah, tens of thousands of Israelis living in towns and villages along Lebanese border clogged roads. They headed south on Monday night or sought cover in underground bomb shelters. The Mayor of Kiryat Shemona was at a command centre in the beleaguered northern Israeli border town on Tuesday, helping to shelter people. SOUNDBITE: (English) "The people are in the shelters, the schools are closed and we are expecting a miracle. We are wishing that peace will come." SUPERCAPTION: Haim Barbibay, Mayor of Kiryat Shemona For the meantime people living on the Israel and Lebanon border say they're taking no chances. They too are waiting for a peaceful solution . You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/6eabbf4c901e117d296221ae73960e09 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork