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Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., January 14, 2009 Tevet 18, 5769 | BERJAYA | Israel Time: 17:28 (EST+7)
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Last update - 19:17 06/01/2009 BERJAYA BERJAYA BERJAYA
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'Iran pledged Hezbollah won't respond to Gaza op,' says top Lebanese MP
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By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent
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Tags: Gaza, Israel, Hezbollah BERJAYA
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Lebanon's parliament majority leader Saad Hariri on Monday claimed that Hezbollah would not respond to Israel's devastating offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

Hariri said that Saeed Jalili, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told him that Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant organization, would not attack Israel from Lebanon.

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"What Jalili said greatly calms us," Hariri said.

The lawmaker's remarks came despite the fact that observers in both Lebanon and Israel are starting to believe some kind of escalation along the Lebanese border is likely if the military operation in Gaza continues.

It is far from clear what form this escalation might take. One possibility is relatively small-scale rocket launches, either by Lebanese groups affiliated with the cause of global jihad or by Palestinian groups in Lebanon, which generally coordinate their activities with Hezbollah.

Another option is an operation by Hezbollah itself, which would probably be broader in scope.

That Hezbollah has been increasing its forces' preparedness in recent weeks is no secret: The organization's leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, announced it publicly the day Israel's operation in Gaza began, and Sheikh Nabil Kauk, the Hezbollah official in charge of south Lebanon, reiterated it Monday.

Lebanese analysts believe there is disagreement within Hezbollah: Some senior members favor restraint, while others charge that mere speeches in support of the Palestinians are insufficient, and must be backed up with attacks on Israel.

The prevailing view, however, is that if Hamas appears to be weakening, pressure on Hezbollah to intervene would intensify greatly. "Hezbollah cannot allow Hamas to lose this war," said Ibrahim al-Amin, editor of the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, who is considered close to Nasrallah.

Israel also understands the pressure faced by Hezbollah to intervene. "Our eyes are also on events up north," Defense Minister Ehud Barak told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Monday. "We are ready, waiting and following all developments."

Nevertheless, Hezbollah also has some reasons to avoid attacking Israel  first and foremost fear of Israel's response. Israel has already announced that it would view any attack by Hezbollah as an attack by the Lebanese government, meaning that it would consider Lebanese government institutions fair game in any retaliatory strike.

Another reason is the upcoming parliamentary elections in Lebanon, scheduled for May. Amal Saad-Ghorayeb, an expert on Hezbollah, told Agence France-Presse over the weekend that she thinks Hezbollah will want to avoid antagonizing its political rivals at this time, as "they [Hezbollah] don't want to ruin the 'dialogue table,' which allows them to keep the issue of their weapons indefinitely unsolved.
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From the bunker BERJAYA
Hamas says Gaza won't break, victory over Israel is near.
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Banned BERJAYA
Israel bans Arab parties from running in upcoming elections.
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  1.   You love wars 06:54  |  I love LebanonBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  2.   Hezbollah isn`t defending their Palenstinian brothers? 07:06  |  An AmericanBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  3.   You love wars 07:29  |  I love IsraelBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  4.   Hez and Tehran Would Be Smart to Stay Out 07:35  |  Dav LevBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  5.   Israel would love an excuse to have another go at Hizbollah 07:36  |  Natallie DursonBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  6.   to i love lebabnon 08:01  |  mouradBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  7.   Arabs blame out 09:02  |  Take responsibilityBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  8.   damned if they do or dont 10:25  |  ronBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  9.   Observers are starting to think? 10:33  |  HAL.BERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  10.   Destructive politics 12:14  |  AnneBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  11.   #9 Hal YEEEEESSS! 12:43  |  PetraBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  12.   and then what....Syria/Iran attacking from the other side? 14:38  |  BenjaminaBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  13.   Amazing Irony!!! 14:41  |  PinoyBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  14.   Haven`t you noticed, Petra? 14:53  |  MurrayBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  15.   It is funny 16:00  |  PalestinianBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  16.   stop wars and accept peace 16:03  |  hezbolla supporterBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  17.   to bad we dont have our migs yet 16:05  |  hezbollahBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  18.   Hezbollah responding to Gaza Op. 17:30  |  EzraBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  19.   to "I Love Lebanon" 19:03  |  eyemanBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  20.   If you don`t know the truth, then keep your mouth shut!!! 19:24  |  truth and democracyBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  21.   you have no clue 21:04  |  BKBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  22.   hizbily and iran know well not to fool around with.. 21:14  |  reuvenBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  23.   truth and democracy 21:14  |  jenBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  24.   one solution, to make peace remotely possible 21:30  |  samBERJAYA 06/01/09 BERJAYA
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  25.   Here`s the real reason, guys.... 03:51  |  JohnboyBERJAYA 07/01/09 BERJAYA
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  26.   hezbollah 19:36  |  delwarBERJAYA 08/01/09 BERJAYA
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  27.   I love lebanon 17:18  |  Samir HalabiBERJAYA 14/01/09 BERJAYA
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 Read & React
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BERJAYAOlmert ignoring calls from Barak, Livni for immediate Gaza truce BERJAYA
BERJAYA Responses: 55 BERJAYA
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BERJAYAHarel & Issacharoff: Is Hamas waiting on Obama for Gaza truce?BERJAYA
BERJAYA Responses: 25 BERJAYA
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BERJAYAEditorial: Israel must wait as Hamas seeks way out of Gaza messBERJAYA
BERJAYA Responses: 14 BERJAYA
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BERJAYADiplomats: Gaza op causing long-term harm to Israel's image BERJAYA
BERJAYA Responses: 57 BERJAYA
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BERJAYAIsrael's defense establishment backs an immediate cease-fire in GazaBERJAYA
BERJAYA Responses: 29 BERJAYA
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BERJAYAMore Headlines
16:55 IDF soldier seriously hurt in anti-tank missile attack in Gaza
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16:58 Israel defense officials back immediate Gaza cease-fire
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17:21 3 rockets fired from Lebanon hit north Israel; IDF returns fire
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13:28 ANALYSIS / Hezbollah seeking to change the rules of the game
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15:51 Gaza militants fire at least 10 rockets into southern Israel
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13:44 Islamist Web sites: Bin Laden calls for jihad over Gaza op
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14:22 Olmert hits back in spat with U.S. over remarks on UN Gaza truce vote
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14:28 Olmert aides blast Barak for comments backing Gaza truce
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15:04 ANALYSIS / Hamas fighting power still exists in Gaza
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16:25 UN's Ban, in Egypt, renews call for immediate Gaza cease-fire
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07:21 ANALYSIS / Israel thinks Hamas waiting on Obama for Gaza truce
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16:53 Israel indicts two Iran TV journalists for reporting on Gaza ground invasion
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16:07 IDF confirms Israel Navy turned back Iran 'aid ship' headed for Gaza
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16:00 U.S. rabbis urge Obama to push for immediate Gaza truce
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14:03 Nine human rights groups unite to call for emergency relief for Gaza
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07:23 Diplomats: Gaza op causing long-term harm to Israel's image
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07:38 Sarkozy urges French religious leaders to condemn anti-Semitic incidents
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23:56 Settler shoots, kills Palestinian who allegedly hurled rocks at him
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07:30 Amira Hass / Palestinian doctor killed by IDF while treating Gaza wounded
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05:35 Israel resumes soccer league matches - except in Arab sector
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14:08 Israel's Lebanon war film, Waltz with Bashir, one step closer to Oscar
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