BERLIN, May 31. /TASS/. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called on Israel and Hezbollah to return to the ceasefire, adding that talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington are the "right channel for achieving results."
"Any further advance of the Israeli army in southern Lebanon causes serious concern," he said, as cited by the DPA agency. He called on Israel to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure during its operation against Hezbollah.
"Any further escalation will only aggravate the tense situation and provoke new waves of displacements of the population in Lebanon," he said. He admitted that Israel has legitimate security interests. But when civilians pay the price of the military escalation, and whole areas in Lebanon become unfit for living, this will not help Israel ensure long-term security, he noted.
According to the top German diplomat, the key to the stabilization in Lebanon is the strengthening of the Lebanese state, and to make this happen, the country’s government must establish a monopoly on the use of forces and fight against Hezbollah. The Israeli-Lebanese talks in Washington are the "right channel for achieving results," Wadephul said, adding that Hezbollah must not continue torpedoing this peace process.
