Israel ends naval blockade of Lebanon

Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Friday that his country intended to withdraw all the remaining soldiers from south Lebanon within two weeks, local newspaper the Jerusalem Post reported.
"Israel's intention is to exit as soon as possible from the moment the coordination between Israel and the international forces is complete," Peretz was quoted as telling visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Peretz noted that the withdrawal would depend on coordination with the UN multinational force that would deploy in the army's stead, but adding that the pullout should happen "within two weeks."

"We have no intention of staying in Lebanon," said Peretz, who was under intense criticism in Israel for the 34-day-long Israel- Hezbollah conflict.
Describing it as "extremely important," the Israeli minister stressed the significance of Germany's role in enforcing an arms embargo on Hezbollah.
He also underlined the importance of Germany's role in bringing home the two abducted Israeli soldiers, saying that "an important potential role (to play) in returning kidnapped soldiers Eldad Regev and (Ehud) Goldwasser home."

On July 12, Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others, sparking the conflict between the two sides.
Israel failed to retrieve the two captive soldiers when the fighting ended on Aug. 14 under the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 which authorizes an expansion of UN troops in Lebanon to 15, 000 to help the Lebanese government army take control of south Lebanon when Israel withdraws.
The Israeli army lifted the aerial blockade on Lebanon at 6:00 p.m. (1500 GMT) Thursday but postponed the end to a siege on Lebanon's sea ports.